Volvo starts production of V60 diesel plug-in hybrid, first anywhere [w/video]
Volvo’s production and sales forecast is small scale, but it does seem to be moving the metal. Volvo initially announced a target of making 1,000 of the 2013 models, but high advance orders led the company to ramp up production levels. Production will increase to between 4,000 and 6,000 cars for the 2014 model year.
It’s not clear when these V60s will be arriving in the US. Americans have become more interested in buying “clean diesel” vehicles, and the plug-in hybrid mileage benefits could add to the V60’s market appeal. They’re not cheap – reports said it would cost around the equivalent of $81,000 US –but they are expected to sell out in Europe. “The first year’s 1,000-car batch was sold out even before the car reached the showrooms and the order books for next year’s cars are already filling up,” said Peter Mertens, senior vice president of research and development at Volvo, in a statement.
One aspect of the V60 plug-in hybrid that Volvo is calling out is that it has 300 more parts than the conventional internal combustion engine version of the V60. This requires additional equipment and systems at the final assembly line to smoothly integrate the process. One example of the integrated production flow is the electric motor fitted on the same station as the final drive on the standard four-wheel drive models. Another one deals with the battery pack being lifted in through the car’s tailgate, short side forward, and then it gets spun a quarter of a turn in the passenger compartment.
“The 11.2 kWh lithium-type battery is the single most complex system in the car. The precision manoeuvre to get it in place is an excellent example of the state-of-the-art assembly process,” Merten said.
Volvo Car Corporation is now ramping up production of the new Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid. After the initial batch of 1,000 model year 2013 cars, production will increase to 4,000-6,000 cars as of model year 2014.
The assembly of the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid has been successfully integrated on the same line as the company’s other models at the Torslanda plant in Gothenburg.
This is a remarkable achievement considering that the sophisticated plug-in hybrid technology includes two complete drive trains and a powerful battery that provides a range of up to 50 kilometres on pure electric power.
“We are first in the industry to integrate a plug-in hybrid in an established production flow together with other car models,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation. “The integration in the standard production flow gives the plug-in hybrid buyer the possibility to choose in principle all options available for the standard V60.”
Over 300 more parts
All the additional equipment and additional systems in the plug-in hybrid have led to parts of the final assembly line being rebuilt and modified. The adaption makes it possible to smoothly integrate the assembly of over 300 more parts that are included in the plug-in hybrid compared to an equivalent V60.
A couple of examples of the integrated production flow:
- The electric motor along with its drive shafts is fitted on the same station as the final drive on the standard four-wheel drive models.
- The cooling system and the high voltage cables are assembled on the Pallet, which is used to assemble the car’s drive train and chassis parts.
- The battery pack is lifted in through the car’s tailgate short side forward. It is then spun a quarter of a turn in the passenger compartment – a manoeuvre that takes 60 seconds and carried out with less than 20 millimetres to spare.
“The 11.2 kWh lithium-type battery is the single most complex system in the car. The precision manoeuvre to get it in place is an excellent example of the state-of-the-art assembly process,” says Peter Mertens.
Increasing demand
The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the synthesis of close cooperation between Volvo Car Corporation and Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall. The two companies have financed the development project jointly.
“The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is a unique car, a historic step, not only for Volvo Car Corporation but for the entire car industry. The first year’s 1,000-car batch was sold out even before the car reached the showrooms and the order books for next year’s cars are already filling up,” concludes Peter Mertens.
