Volvo announced an all-electric version of its C30 premium hatch last September, but decided to keep the EV mostly under wraps, showing it only to a select group following the Frankfurt Motor Show. But the electrified C30 will soon be out in the open as it is scheduled to make an appearance at next month’s Detroit Auto Show.
Taking center stage at the Volvo display in Detroit will be an all-electric version of the C30 hatchback. Although we have seen a number of different environmentally friendly C30 concepts, the Detroit show car will be the first to feature an all-electric drivetrain and full interior complete with instrumentation.
Although Volvo has yet to release any specs on the C30’s electric motor, the Swedish automaker did reveal the C30 EV features a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack – double the size of the battery used in the C30 plug-in concept — housed under the car’s hood and in the space typically reserved for a gas tank. The electric C30 can be fully charged in 8 hours, providing a 93 miles range.
The electric C30 can accelerate from 0-60 in under 11 seconds, on its way to a top speed just shy of 81mph.
Volvo plans to begin fleet testing of the electric C30 next year, with retail sales slated to kick off sometime in 2012.
