Detroit motor show: electric Volvo C30

Volvo is to trial 50 of its all-electric C30s - unveiled at today's Detroit motor show - from 2011.

In September, Volvo presented the first driveable electric C30 and it has since been refining the concept for an official launch at next month’s Detroit motor show.

See the new Volvo C30 BEV pics

Lennart Stegland, director of Volvo’s special vehicles, said: “The first prototype helped us identify the main technological challenges, such as battery packaging and safety issues. We have addressed these challenges without compromising the C30's personality. I am very happy with the result. The electric C30 in Detroit is a much more complete product."

The latest electric C30 features a complete interior for the first time and a full instrument panel, as well as enhanced battery packaging. The car is powered by lithium-ion batteries and an 82kw electric motor to give a power output of 111bhp. The plug-in electric car takes around eight hours to fully recharge from a regular household socket.

Its top speed is 81mph, while 0-60mph takes 10.5 seconds. Volvo claims its 93 mile range is enough to cover around 90 per cent of all European journeys.

The 50 cars for trial are partly being funded by a 150 million Swedish Kronor (£12.8m) grant from the Swedish Energy Agency. The trials will last for around two years, with Volvo assessing a select group of individuals throughout that period to provide input into developing future electric vehicles and the required infrastructure to support them.

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Detroit motor show 2010

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