Plug-In Hybrid - Introduction - Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid Owner's Manual

01 Introduction
01

Plug-in hybrid - introduction

The car is driven as a completely normal car.
The electric motor drives the car mostly at low
speeds, the diesel engine at higher speeds,
and during more active driving.
Important to know
WARNING
Remember that the car does not emit any
engine noise when it is only powered by
the electric motor and may therefore be
difficult to notice by children, pedestrians,
cyclists and animals. This applies in partic-
ular at low speeds, such as in car parks.
Hazard voltage
Several components in the
car operate with hazardous
electrical voltage. Do not
touch anything that is not
clearly described in this
owner's manual. Read more
about the engine compart-
ment (p. 330).
WARNING
Orange cables marked with a high-voltage
decal must only be handled by qualified
personnel.
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Driving the car
The car is driven as a completely normal car.
The electric motor drives the car mostly at
low speeds, the diesel engine at higher
speeds, and during more active driving. Read
more about Economical driving (p. 285).
Drive modes
It is possible to set the car in different drive
modes while driving, e.g. electric operation
only or, when power is required, both electric
motor and diesel engine. The car calculates
an optimal combination of driveability, driving
experience, environmental load and fuel
economy according to the drive mode
selected. Read more about Drive system -
drive modes (p. 258).
Combined instrument panel
Two fields in the combined instrument panel
show unique information for the V60 PLUG-IN
HYBRID; hybrid battery gauge (current energy
level), active drive mode, symbol that is illumi-
nated when the diesel engine is operating,
Hybrid Guide as well as energy recovery.
Read more about the combined instrument
panel (p. 63).
Preconditioning
In order that the car should have optimal
function it is important that the hybrid battery
with associated electrical drive systems, as
well as the diesel engine and its drive sys-
tems, have the correct operating temperature.
Battery capacity is reduced considerably if
the battery is too cold or too hot. Precondi-
tioning prepares the car's drive systems and
the passenger compartment before departure
so that both wear and energy needs during
the journey are reduced. Read more about
Preconditioning the car (p. 129).
Charging the hybrid battery
IMPORTANT
Never connect the charging cable when
there is a risk of lightning.
The hybrid battery is the Lithium-ion type and
can be recharged in different ways. A charg-
ing cable with control unit can be connected
between the car and a 230V AC socket, see
Charging cable with control unit (p. 289).
Charging time depends on charging current
(p. 286).
The electric motor is used as an engine brake
during light braking and the car's kinetic
energy is converted to electrical energy which
is used to charge the hybrid battery. Read
more about recycling the brake force energy
(p. 269).
In addition, the diesel engine can charge the
electric motor's hybrid battery with a special
hazard voltage generator when the need ari-
ses, see drive system and drive modes (p.
258).