Volvo has provided additional information on the hybrid system that powers its all-new XC90 T8 model.
Volvo has provided additional information on the hybrid system that powers XC90, which is available in the T8 edition.
The company first explains that the model offers “all the performance and emissions of a luxury SUV but with a level of emission that small hybrid cars struggle for.” The XC90 T8, which is based on the modular Scalable Product Architecture platform (SPA), is a 7-seater SUV that’s “uniquely spacious”, according to the manufacturer.
The hybrid system is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder DriveE petrol supercharged turbocharged engine that produces 318 HP (234kW) and 400 Nm (295lb-ft). It powers the front axle. The rear axle houses an electric motor that generates 80 HP (64kW) and 240Nm (177lb-ft). The engine produces 400 HP (294kW) and 640Nm (472lb-ft) of power. It is channeled through an 8-speed manual gearbox that has shift-by-wire technology. This allows drivers to control the transmission electronically. It takes just 5.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-60 mph) while CO2 emissions are only 59 g/km.
A crankshaft-mounted starter engine (CISG) is also located between the engine & the gearbox. It performs three functions: it acts as a starter motor (46 HP, 34 kW), allowing the car to switch seamlessly from pure electric to combination combustion drive, and an electric generator.
The system uses a high-voltage (270-4400 V) battery to provide electric energy. It delivers 88 HP (65kW) of power and is located centrally in the tunnel. Volvo says this arrangement has many advantages. For example, it doesn’t reduce the space in the car and ensures a low center of gravity. Two-step braking technology, which partly uses brake-by wire technology, can recharge the battery.
Two circuit cooling is used in the hybrid powertrain. The first cools CISG and large electric motors on the rear axle. The second cools battery either passively via radiator or active through integration with the car’s climate system.
There are five driving modes available for the car. They can be controlled via a touchscreen or scroll wheel in the dashboard. The default Hybrid mode automatically switches between the petrol engine or the electric motor. Pure Electric mode is available when the battery has been fully charged. It can provide a range of 40 km (25 mile) by using only electricity. The driver can choose between the power mode and the electric motor. AWD mode provides constant all-wheel drive. The Save mode “freezes the battery and conserves energy for Pure Electric mode.”