Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric New technology

Backed by the Swedish Energy Agency, Volvo will build two fuel cell range extender prototype chassis based on the Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric, to be ready for testing in everyday traffic in 2012.

Battery cost and size means that all-electric cars still have a relatively limited operating range. The firm is working with Powercell Sweden to build a hydrogen range extender with a reformer, which breaks down petrol to create hydrogen gas. This range extender is expected to increase the electric car’s operating range by up to 155 miles, giving a total of around 250 miles.

The Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo Cars just announced its next step towards creating a next-generation electric car technology.

This technology is expected to increase the electric car’s operating range by up to 250 kilometers, in addition to the range provided by the car’s battery pack.

In the next phase, Volvo Cars and Powercell plans to produce two test cars based on the current Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric. Battery cost and size means that all-electric cars still have a relatively limited operating range. Fuel cells may be one way of extending the distance these cars can cover before they need to be recharged. What is more, the project gives us increased knowledge about fuel cells and hydrogen gas,”
Volvo Cars has started development of a fuel cell which can act as a range extender for its electric car.

The fuel cell range extension is targeted at "up to 250 km."
The fuel cell will run on petrol, and have a reformer to convert the petrol to hydrogen.

"Battery cost and size means that all-electric cars still have a relatively limited operating range.