The Volvo C30 Electric might not be destined for production, but that isn't stopping the automaker's engineers from putting prototypes of the EV hatch through its paces in the arctic climes of Kiruna, Sweden.
Why venture that far north of the company's headquarters in Gothenburg? According to Lennart Stegland, Volvo's vice president of Electric Propulsion Systems, "Our basic view is that the owner of an electric vehicle shouldn't have to sacrifice any of the qualities he or she expects from a luxury car."
To that end, Volvo wants to be able to keep both the interior and battery up to prime operating temperatures no matter how frigid it gets outside.
Since battery range and life are diminished when the cells get too cold, Volvo uses a 6kW immersion heater to keep the temps up, both when charging and while the C30 is in motion. The heater can be set using a preconditioning timer to keep the battery temps in check and warm the interior from as much as -30C, and the system automatically pre-heats the packs when the temperature reaches -15C.
But what about production applications? Volvo is keeping mum on its electrification efforts, but if it's sending engineers up and past the Esrange Space Centre, there's a good chance we'll be seeing an EV from the Swedes sometime soon.
Thank You : Source : wired.co.uk
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