Volvo C30 electric concept headed for 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

Autocar has reported that Volvo is working on an all-electric concept, the Volvo C30 electric car, that will be unveiled at its Innovation for Life event, held after the 2009 Frankfurt auto show, in mid-September 2009.

Photo: Volvo ReCharge plug-in hybrid concept

“Volvo has confirmed it is working an all-electric C30. The company will show a fully operational version of the all-electric C30″ later this year,” Autocar reports.

As for now, the company has no production plans for the Volvo C30 electric car, but it may consider it in the future.

“The zero-emissions hatch is an evaluation concept. It’s being worked on and is part of an ongoing evaluation and we will make a decision in the future,” Autocar has quoted a source as saying.

Whether to or not to produce the car will also largely depend on Volvo’s stand on manufacturing diesel plug-in hybrid V70 wagons by 2012. The company is also on good terms with the American battery maker, Ener1, allcarselectric.com has said.

“Volvo has confirmed an upcoming plug-in hybrid version of its V70 wagon using an electric motor to power the rear wheels and a diesel engine to power the front. That car is expected to debut in full production form in 2012,” reported Autoblog.

New York Times was the first to report that Volvo was working on the electric C30 concept. It said that the Volvo C30 electric cars bears a resemblance to the Volvo electric ReCharge plug-in hybrid concept vehicle, that was displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

The Volvo ReCharge had wheel motors at all four corners and 62 miles of electric range. The wheel motors will not be present in the Volvo C30 electric oncept.

The New Yor Times quoted a Volvo spokesman as saying that the Volvo battery C30 would have about “130 miles of range and could be part of a 100-vehicle test fleet if plans were approved.”