Volvo finally takes attitude regarding the infrastructure problems for the electric vehicles. In the Swedish car maker’s opinion, the lack of a standardized battery charging system is slowing down the electric cars’ spreading.
Their proposition to develop a standard charging system, which would be common for all the electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles looks indeed like a next naturally step in developing electric cars on a larger scale. However, let’s not underestimate the other problems that keep the potential clients away from the electric cars: the big price and the (still) poor range.
Volvo has decided to sustain the Combined Charging System (CCS), which represents a universal charging system developed by Charging Interface Initiative. This measure is particularly important for them, as they plan to offer a plug-in version for every new model in their portfolio. More, the Swedish car producer will introduce a fully electric car until 2019. To contribute at the future electric cars’ success, the infrastructure needs to be simple, fast and contain as many charging-stations as possible all over the world.
The CCS gives the possibility to choose between regular and fast-charging, by combining a single-phase with a fast three-phase charging mode. It uses a maximum 43 kW alternating current and up to 200kW (upgradable to 300 kW in the future) direct-current charging, both of them combined in the same system. Currently, Volvo offers Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrains in a large proportion, twenty percent of the XC90 SUVs sold use this technology.
