2004 Volvo 3CC on carlist.com

The perfect concept for China

Volvo is known for its free thinking when it comes to concept cars. Volvos’ concept cars are less a car, more of a think tank for future designs and technologies.

Such cars as the Environmental Concept Car (ECC), Safety Concept Car (SCC),Versatility Concept Car(VCC) and Your Concept Car (YCC) have brought life to safety systems and technology. Ford purchased Volvo in 1999, not just for Volvo’s marketshare, but for the patents it holds on their designs, safety and technology. If these patents are used in other vehicles the consumer takes notice and will pay more, because Volvo has created their image on safety and technology.

According to Volvo, The Volvo 3CC was entered in the 6th Michelin Challenge Bibendum event because of its challenge to the auto industry to show how it is delivering technical advances to preserve the environment and sustain mobility. Bringing together automakers, policy makers, and the media to explore solutions to the threat posed by emissions and congestion, Michelin’s Challenge Bibendum is the only event of its kind comparing vehicles powered by conventional and alternative energy and propulsion systems. This is the first time it has been held in Asia.

"Volvo ranks enviromental care as much a core value as safety and quality" says Niklas Gustavsson, Environmental Manager Volvo Car Corporation Governmental Affairs.

Last Thursday, October 14th, Edouard Michelin, CEO Michelin, hosted a symposium while at the Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai China. Entitled, What’s next: vision of key decision makers Mr. Dan Werbin, Director of Volvo Cars of North America spoke about Volvo’s legacy of offering sustainable mobility.

"Our job is to be innovative in giving consumers smart mobility choices that also reduce environmental impact and still be safe and exciting."

"Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle is that everything must be as safe as possible. Heavy cars are more aggressive, light cars are more vulnerable. We are improving the compatability crash structure between heavy and light cars."

"The Volvo 3CC moves us towards a totally new mobility perspective of not using more car than you need at a particular moment."

What makes the 3CC the gold star winner of the Challenge Bibendum? The exterior design is enough to catch one’s eye. A torpedo-tapered shape with airplane cowlings in the back. When sitting in the car one feels like they are in a World War II Mustang P51 fighter prop. You can’t pull the canopy back to get in and out, but Volvo has provided gullwing-like doors and a floating dash panel that slides for easy ingress and egress. Dimensions similar to a 2-seater sports car belies the fact that 3 people, preferably 2 adults and someone on the love seat in the back, can sit comfotably with 360 visibility.

Under the hood, the electricity comes from Lithium-ion cells identical to those used in laptop computers. The Volvo 3CC is propelled to a top speed of 85 mph and a 0-60 acceleration of about ten seconds - all with zero emissions. These numbers are enhanced by the bonded one piece carbon fibre shell. This same composite material used to build Formula One cars is fifty percent lighter than steel.

"The double floor used to house the electric energy storage makes the concept future-proof in that the layout can be adapted for the most appropriate powertrain in the future, whether it be petrol, diesel, biogas or hybrid electric," explains Ichiro Sugioka, Science Officer at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC) think-tank in California. There are 3,000 cylindrical batteries, one on top of each other in this double-floor sandwich. The round batteries are important, as it allows the batteries to receive air to cool themselves.

"Rather than refining existing cars and technologies for new markets, Volvo has listened, questioned and speculated about the future and developed this all new concept," says Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President Brand, Product and Business Strategy. "We think the Volvo 3CC opens a door into that future and we will develop the concept further."

With all the new design and infrastructure the Volvo 3CC has incorporated they still depend on the one thing that hasn’t changed about any of these cars. Tires. The four tires found on each car is the only part of the car that touches the ground. The 3CC uses Michelin Pilot Sport 215/45 ZR18 tires that are found on sports cars.

China has a program called the 863 program. It is a five year program with a budget of $108 million for electric research and development. Volvo created the 3CC in about a years time. Expect Volvo to continue to work on this project. One doesn’t win 5 gold stars on a project, in a country where they are looking for alternatives and have the money to spend on it.