Following in the footsteps of the 2007 ReCharge concept, Volvo has announced it is readying an all-electric version of its C30 compact hatchback. The C30 EV concept will not appear at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but will be unveiled at Volvo’s Innovation for Life event shortly after the show.
Volvo failed to release any details on the concept, but did confirm the C30 EV will be making an appearance at the Innovation for Life event. “The all-electric C30 is a car we have talked about previously and formed the basis of the ReCharge concept shown a few years ago,†a Volvo source revealed to Autocar.
“One of the cars that will be shown at the Innovation for Life event will be an all-electric C30 and that car will be driven.â€
Since the ReCharge is tipped to be a close relative to the new C30 EV concept, look for the electric hatch to utilize small electric motors in each wheel. The C30 EV’s battery pack will likely grow over that used in the ReCharged concept, thanks to the lack of an onboard gas engine.
Although several automakers have EVs in the production pipeline, Volvo says the electric C30 is strictly a concept with no production plans in place. Volvo plans to have its first hybrid to market by 2012, with any EVs likely to bow sometime after that.
