2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: Volvo ReCharge Concept

• Looks like: A Volvo C30 with green wheels
• Defining characteristics: 66% fewer emissions than today’s best hybrid car
• Ridiculous features: Did we mention the green wheels?   
• Chance of being mass-produced: We’d like to see a plug-in hybrid like this as much as the next guy, but there are still lots of issues to be ironed out first. Mainly how much people are willing to spend on very pricey technology.

We can see it now. The horsepower wars that brought us a 300-hp Mustang GT and a new wave of Hemi engines are over. The new battle will be waged in mpg — not hp. We’re probably stating the obvious at this point, but with each auto show that passes we’re seeing more and more attention paid to how technology can increase mileage and decrease emissions. Now that we can go as fast as we can possibly handle anyway, we might as well save some money at the pump.

That’s Volvo’s aim with the ReCharge concept. Based on the C30 hatchback that just went on sale in the U.S., the California-developed ReCharge teams a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with four-electrical motors, one at each wheel. This gives the C30 some gusto: It hits 62 mph in 9 seconds, which puts it about a half-second ahead of a Dodge Caliber R/T. That’s not Hemi speed, but Volvo claims on a full charge, on a 93-mile trip the ReCharge will return 124 mpg.

The ReCharge uses the gasoline powered engine to power a generator which then sends electric power to the wheels. That generator can also be powered via a battery like in most hybrid cars. However, this battery can be charged using a standard electrical plug and takes just three hours to be fully charged fully. While driving, owners can push a button to change where the power is coming from – the battery or gas engine — to maximize efficiency, using the gasoline powered engine on the highway while saving the battery charge for a congested city, kind of like our commutes. 

The only question we’re left with is, is this real? The press release talks about the ReCharge as if it has been tested and is ready for sale, but it doesn’t say whether it’s is a real vehicle or a hypothetical one like the Chevy Volt. If it is close to reality, a company like Volvo — with its particular demographic — may be better suited to sell a plug-in hybrid in the real world than Chevy or Ford.