First Electric Volvo

[Clan]

Originally Posted by GMcL

Is there a link between Volvo and Polestar for electrification ?

I read a week or so back the Polestar 2 will start delivery in May next year in Europe and July/August time in the UK. Polestar are quoting a targeted range of 500kms EU figures roughly 300 miles, US figures are at 275miles. For a 400 horsepower car that's pretty impressive stuff, OK it's 58,000€, with a lower output car to follow at a more reasonable 39k mark.

Place your orders now...

yes , polestar is a division of Volvo ...

[green van man]

Originally Posted by Clan

Battery warranty is 8 years ... look back in history and see how the 20 year old Toyota Prius deals with batteries . When there are enough older electric cars around there will be specialist companies springing up to recondition the batteries at reasonable cost , They are probably around already . Volvo already have people certified to do it if needed .

I read a report on an online newspaper site of a Canadian man whom baught a new Toyota Prius in 2012, finding his battery capasity poor he took the car to his dealer, they fitted a new battery at a cost of $12000. The car is worth $3500.

There may be companies refurbishing batteries as the demand grows, but just as garage service varies even from fitter to fitter so the refurbishment of batteries will. For evidence take a look at landrover steering box reconditioners, some recondition, many clean and paint . The quality is so variable it's a minefield.

Paul.

[GMcL]

Originally Posted by Clan

yes , polestar is a division of Volvo ...

That's what I thought but got confused as previously Polestar was a badge on a Volvo thinking AMG on a Mercedes, M-Sport on a BMW kind of thing whereas now, they appear to be a separate brand along the lines of Cupra from SEAT, DS from Citroën, Lexus from Toyota.

Where does that leave Polestar on a Volvo badging ? Is that now consigned to the history books with pure internal combustion engines being supplemented with electric motors giving us hybrids ? Will Polestar tuning still be available with say a petrol engine when it is mated to an electric motor or is that now seen as obsolete due to the extra shove now available from electric power ?

My own view is there would still be a market for mildly modified petrol or diesel power when mated to an electric motor in a similar way output is enhanced when a turbo or supercharger has been used. The question is whether or not the transmission/electronics can handle it in a similar way or if the electric motor means there is no need to make the conventional engine work harder without harming exhaust emissions.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by green van man

I read a report on an online newspaper site of a Canadian man whom baught a new Toyota Prius in 2012, finding his battery capasity poor he took the car to his dealer, they fitted a new battery at a cost of $12000. The car is worth $3500.

There may be companies refurbishing batteries as the demand grows, but just as garage service varies even from fitter to fitter so the refurbishment of batteries will. For evidence take a look at landrover steering box reconditioners, some recondition, many clean and paint . The quality is so variable it's a minefield.

Paul.

You have to hold a high voltage electrical qualification to go anywhere near a battery pack . It is a recognised electrical qualification . there is also mandatory safety equipment you have to use and procedures have to be followed ...

[green van man]

Originally Posted by Clan

You have to hold a high voltage electrical qualification to go anywhere near a battery pack . It is a recognised electrical qualification . there is also mandatory safety equipment you have to use and procedures have to be followed ...

There are cowboys in every field clan, as doubtlessly you realise.

Multi national company, one man holding the nessesary qualifications to tick the box, lots of wannabes doing the work. A situation I am personaly aware of. Very very common.

I have no faith in regulations that are not followed or enforced as the cowboys just work around them. Take a close look at the electrical contracting field. It is getting better but only slowly and still far too many poorly trained and qualified wannabes.

Paul.

As a point of interest what voltage is in these batteries as I hold qualifications to work live on LV systems and that is classed as up to 1000V

[Clan]

Originally Posted by green van man

There are cowboys in every field clan, as doubtlessly you realise.

Multi national company, one man holding the nessesary qualifications to tick the box, lots of wannabes doing the work. A situation I am personaly aware of. Very very common.

I have no faith in regulations that are not followed or enforced as the cowboys just work around them. Take a close look at the electrical contracting field. It is getting better but only slowly and still far too many poorly trained and qualified wannabes.

Paul.

Same with Air Conditioning Isn't it .

[GMcL]

Now I'm really confused. I've just read this in Auto Express:
"The electric XC40 also heralds the arrival of a new Volvo sub-brand, called Recharge, under which all chargeable models - that means plug-in hybrid as well as fully electric vehicles - will now sit."

So now we get Volvo hybrids, Volvo Recharge plug-in hybrid and battery only and Polestar which looks like it is going to sit in the same space as Volvo Recharge ? As a brand with no customer history Polestar will require some propping up on residuals until it gets established. Geely must have deep pockets.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by GMcL

Now I'm really confused. I've just read this in Auto Express:
"The electric XC40 also heralds the arrival of a new Volvo sub-brand, called Recharge, under which all chargeable models - that means plug-in hybrid as well as fully electric vehicles - will now sit."

So now we get Volvo hybrids, Volvo Recharge plug-in hybrid and battery only and Polestar which looks like it is going to sit in the same space as Volvo Recharge ? As a brand with no customer history Polestar will require some propping up on residuals until it gets established. Geely must have deep pockets.

polestar have been working with volvo for 25+ years , volvo bought the brand name out about 5 years ago , lots of volvo content except the carbon fibre !

[Harvey1512]

It's an awful lot of money for a car that can only go 200 miles. That range is for cars that tootle back and forth to the shops, short journey to work etc. Would people doing those journeys spend that amount of money? Get to 300 miles and you start to be in business to a much larger audience. Until then it is a tough sell and that price point.

Good luck to the sales people in the dealers with that.

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by Harvey1512

It's an awful lot of money for a car that can only go 200 miles. That range is for cars that tootle back and forth to the shops, short journey to work etc. Would people doing those journeys spend that amount of money? Get to 300 miles and you start to be in business to a much larger audience. Until then it is a tough sell and that price point.

Good luck to the sales people in the dealers with that.

Berwick to Newcastle (and back) with a quarter of the charge left to pop to the chippy for tea is a pretty good 'tootle to the shops'. If anything paying for a vehicle and battery pack capable of 200 miles is overkill for my 20 mile round trip to work. If there were something small but with some style (like a Smart Roadster) with 100 mile battery pack I would be seriously tempted for a commuter vehicle, unfortunately that sector offers things like the Gwizz or the Aixam