While major U.S. automakers are focusing on hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, Volvo took a different route, unveiling a sports car powered entirely with lithium-ion batteries. Volvo's 3CC concept car, won "Best Design" and five Gold Standards at
recent Michelin Challenge Bibendum environmental competition in Shanghai, China."Not only does 3CC combine classic Volvo styling cues with exotic gull-wing doors and a tapered, 2+1 seating configuration, but it does so with a highly advanced lithium-ion battery electric drive train. That's a step apart from crowd, which these days is largely focused on hybrid and fuel cell concepts," says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal.
"Just as earlier ECC forwarded new thought in hybrid propulsion with its high-speed turbine-generator design," adds Cogan, "today's lithium-ion 3CC innovates with its thousands of smallish laptop computer-style batteries, which power this zero emission vehicle to impressive levels of efficiency and performance."
Advanced research into sustainable mobility and Volvo engineers have placed particular focus on conditions regulating safety in small cars and their ability to handle incoming forces in a frontal collision.
The unique aerodynamic styling of Volvo's 3CC concept car allows room for a third seat in back. The unique ducktail design creates room for a third seat in back, while batteries are sandwiched into floor panels.
The 3CC concept car features an 80-kilowatt motor that delivers up to 107 horsepower, it has a potential driving range of 300 km (approx 180 miles) 3CC has a top speed of over 135 km per hour.
The carbon-fiber body is mounted on a steel space frame and composite floor panels, giving lightweight vehicle ability to leap to 60 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds. Volvo says 3CC can travel 180 miles on one charge under ideal driving conditions
