The new Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid has just received the highest ever score for a plug-in hybrid. Volvo believes that the safety level of an electrified car has to be the same as other Volvo cars. In the most recent tests, the hybrid was subjected to a frontal offset collision at 64 km/h (40 mph), proving that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is as safe as the standard V60. The European rating institute Euro NCAP provides overall rating for every car model it tests. There are four sub-categories, with each having their separate tests. These are added to generate an overall grade. The precise details about the tests and the results can be viewed at euroncap.com. There is a different approach that has to be taken for the safety of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid due to the integration of the battery pack and the batteries’ added weight. Volvo revised the structure and strengthened it further to allow a controlled deformation, contributing to the high safety level.
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has an encapsulated battery pack, which is positioned beneath the load floor. The output for the new V60 Plug-in Hybrid has been ramped up. The first 1,000 ‘Pure Limited’ cars sold out even before they hit the showrooms. The 2014 model year production will go up to 4,000-6,000 cars after the initial production of cars for model year 2013. In fact, next year’s build slots have started to fill up. Volvo Car Group and Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall jointly worked on the development of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid.
