Sweden Seeks Leadership Role in Plug-In Development
By John O'Dell March 17, 2008
Ah, those pragmatic Swedes. While other governments and automakers are studying the idea of perhaps developing plug-in hybrids, the folks in Stockholm got together with auto executives at Volvo and Saab and said, "Hey, let's get radical and actually do something."
That something is a program to speed development of plug-in technology with an eye toward having real vehicles ready to roll for both companies within a few years.
Also participating in the program are Sweden's energy agency, Swedish power company Vattenfall and ETC Batteries and FuelCells Sweden, a private company whose name speaks for itself.
Goal of the $10 million project is to have a fleet of 10 plug-ins on the road for testing by early 2010, with retail models to follow. "We have decided to cooperate so as to speed up the development of the next generation of cars and engines. When companies, politicians and industry make a joint decision to move issues forward we can achieve better results. This can become a major and important technological advance, and one that is needed to tackle the threat of climate change," Sweden's Minister for Enterprise and Energy, Maud Olofsson, said in a statement.
Because the batteries required by conventional and plug-in hybrids and all types of electric vehicles are susceptible to rapid deterioration in extreme cold, development of batteries that can operate reliably in the Swedish winter is a critical part of the program – and could help boost hybrid battery development worldwide, especially in the reliability and longevity arenas.
Volvo Car's President Fredrik Arp said the program presents "a unique opportunity to take the lead when it comes to innovations for advanced green-car technology.
Electric vehicles will be in demand within the next decade as pressures mount to slash global carbon-dioxide emissions, he said.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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