Volvo's ReCharge Concept, a plug-in hybrid with individual electric wheel motors, can drive an estimated 100 kilometers before the vehicle's four-cylinder Flexifuel engine is needed to power the car and recharge the battery. When driving beyond the car's battery life, fuel consumption may vary from 0 to 5.5 liters per 100 km depending on the distance driven. Volvo researchers say the ReCharge Concept can lower carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 66 percent compared to other hybrids. In addition to operating on battery energy, the ReCharge Concept can also accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 9 seconds and reach top speeds of 160 km/h. The vehicle, which will debut in a specially-designed Volvo C30 at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt, was developed at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center in Camarillo, CA.
