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Volvo launches world’s first plug-in diesel hybrid car

By | February 23, 2011, 11:04 AM PST

Volvo plug-in diesel hybrid

Volvo plug-in diesel hybrid

Are you a car enthusiast who has a really hard time convincing yourself to drive green? Well, Volvo may have the answer for you. The car manufacturer is launching a plug-in diesel hybrid at the Geneva Auto Show that gives you the carbon footprint of a hybrid car, while taking you from 0-60 miles in about 6.9 seconds.

With the push of a button, the Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid can be driven in three different modes: pure, power and hybrid. The diesel engine powers the front two wheels and the 70-horsepower electric motor drives the rear wheels. The “pure” mode allows the driver to go about 30 miles in all-electric mode, before the diesel engine kicks in. Want more range? The hybrid switch will give you about 745 miles on one tank of fuel. And just in case you want to impress the rider in the next lane, well move to “power” mode and you can do zero-to-62 in 6.9 seconds with the combined 285 horsepower produced from the diesel and electric motors.

And if you’re unsure what mode is best for you, on-board navigation technology will select the optimal combination for you. Urban driving or mountain climbing — all seem appropriate for this chunk of metal.

Clearly, there’s something in this for everyone!

The car is set to go into production in 2012, but the U.S. isn’t the first market of choice. Hopefully, though we’ll see this car hit our shores soon.

Via Wired

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Ami Cholia

About Ami Cholia

Ami Cholia was a contributing editor for SmartPlanet in 2011.

Ami Cholia

Ami Cholia

Contributing Editor, Transportation

Ami Cholia has written for AltTransport, Inhabitat, The Huffington Post and Sunday Mid Day in India. She holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is based in New York.

Follow her on Twitter.

Ami Cholia

Ami Cholia

Ami does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

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RE: Volvo Launches World's First Plug-In Diesel Hybrid
Some bad typos in this artical, I'm assuming gas engine really means disel engine and change gas tank to fuel tank. Or Tank of fuel...
Just trying to avoid confusion, there are already enough problems with ppl putting gas in disel tanks.
Posted by csumbler
23rd Feb 2011
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RE: Volvo Launches World's First Plug-In Diesel Hybrid
Thanks! The corrections should all be up...
Posted by amicholia
23rd Feb 2011
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RE: Volvo Launches World's First Plug-In Diesel Hybrid
Isn't this a lot like how the Toyota Highlander hybrid works? Electric power to the back wheels? 'Though it may have both gas and electric to the front. . .

In terms of specific efficiency, Diesels rule! Especially turbocharged.

Just another VW diesel, or are they building their own now?
Posted by CodeCurmudgeon
24th Feb 2011
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Volvo Launches World's First Plug-In Diesel Hybrid
Its a good start. At least where moving in the right direction. We need to save energy and find different ways of getting it. Look at this http://www.elitehybridcars.com/alternative-energy-news.html You can make your own energy and even get your house off the grid.
Posted by jayrerickson
1 day ago
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