2004 Volvo 3CC Concept
Shanghai Bibendum Show-Goers Get a Charge Out of 3CC
Each year French tire manufacturer Michelin holds the Bibendum Competition, celebrating all things automotive and environmentally friendly. But the Bibendum is much more than a long-distance solar car race or the like. Rather its a forum that allows major manufactures to show off their latest eco-safe production and concept vehicles.
Taking front and center stage at this years show is Volvo, which purpose-designed the electric-powered 3CC concept car to enter the event. Volvo is no stranger to quirky designs, having toted around unorthodox yet innovative safety and performance and concepts for decades. The 3CC, however, takes Volvos ingenuity and creativity to an entirely new level while simultaneously departing from any current clean power conventionality.
Propulsion for this truly unique concept is provided by a powerful, single electric motor. Volvo has kept the details and specifications of this powerplant under close guard, but from what is known it is capable of producing a constant and steady stream of 236 lb-ft of torque from 0 to 3,500 rpm. The near silent electric motor has the ability to thrust the 3CC forward to 60 mph in approximately 10 seconds, and then is able to attain an overall top speed of 84 mph.
But performance figures are not the 3CCs only strong suit, as this Volvo concept raises mobility standards by offering a range of more than 186 miles per recharge. Typically electric powered vehicles have a range no greater than 62 miles, crippling functionality to no more than short traveling distances within a local area. The 3CC would be more than capable of making short trips without hassle.
Twenty percent of the 3CCs additional range can be attributed to regenerative braking, a system similar to that used in gasoline-electric hybrid cars like the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. The integrated generator technology has the ability to harness and store energy during braking in order to recharge the battery for further use. Due to the vehicles light weight, the brakes are not assisted.
Of all the experimental Volvos created over the past few years, the 3CC is one of the smallest the Swedish brands Monitoring and Concept Center located in California has built. At 153.5 inches long, 63.9 inches wide and 52 inches high, its the narrowest and shortest vehicle of all. The nearest comparable is Volvos compact S40 sedan, which is a whopping 22.4 inches longer, 5.8 inches wider, and 5.2 inches taller than the 3CC.
As of late, the concepts that Volvo has been producing have progressively become less constrained and limited. It takes just one good glance to see that the 3CC, currently on display in Shanghai, is a radical departure from whats on the brands showroom floors. The 3CCs styling cues include a seamless and unusually upright front end, futuristic swept-back LED headlamps and fenders which stretch to the tips of the front valance, all absent from road-going Volvos.
Volvo has seemingly used the 3CCs quirky styling as an element of surprise. Beyond the front flanks lies a completely different vehicle, unexpected from the Swedish firm. Strangely, the stylists at Volvos concept studios have tweaked the liftgate by pinching and tightening it, all the while allowing its coke-bottle fenders to ripple and flow. If Jeeps Treo concept mated with a classic Volvo P1800S Wagon, their offspring probably would look along the lines of the 3CC.
The quirky and unique character of the 3CCs exterior is continued throughout the interior. As its tapered rear end suggests, this is no conventional five-seat hatchback. Although it features a pair of regular buckets with Volvos unique four-point safety belt system, the conventional rear bench gets replaced by a single seat. The extra seat in the 2+1 configuration is accessed via a sliding mechanism which physically alters the layout of the interior. When the front seats are slid forward, the floating instrument panel retracts allowing greater ease for entry and exit.
While the vivid yellow trim used to upholster much of the 3CCs interior may not be to everyones tastes, almost all will enjoy the smoke-tinted transparent roof panels and delicately thin pillars which provide an unobstructed view of the road ahead. The highlight of this forward and simple interior comes from Volvos latest innovation for the cars climate, stereo and lighting controls which can be actuated by placing a finger within a 0.2-inch distance from the button.
Between the subtle-free styling, techno-inspired interior and electric motor propulsion, the biggest advancement Volvo made with the 3CC was its chassis design, and how the engineers managed to keep weight down. A one-piece shell crafted from carbon fiber was employed to reduce mass, allowing the 3CC to have a torque-to-weight ratio comparable to Volvos own high-performance S60 T5 sports sedan.
As for the chassis itself, Volvo decided that a one-off high-tensile steel spaceframe with a lightweight composite sandwich floor would be a better move than a conventional, heavy monocoque. The space in between the two layers has been used to house lithium-ion battery cells similar to those used in modern, slim laptops. Volvo claims that the layout could be applied to conventional gasoline, diesel, natural gas or a hybrid ICE-electric powertrain expanding possibilities for a production-optimized vehicle in the near future.
Beyond the complex engineering involved in creating the sandwich structure chassis is a simple, yet effective suspension
system. A double-wishbone setup with coil-over dampers can be found at all corners, which interestingly enough is a layout currently not found on any production Volvo.
The electric motor, by the way, also drives the front wheels, which is an unusual setup for an electric vehicle but nevertheless benefits traction. The 3CC rides on bespoke wheels, wrapped in 215/45 ZR18 tires supplied by Michelin, of course, the events sponsored.
Although the production of a pure electric vehicle on a large scale by any major manufacturer may be out of the question, especially now that GMs Impact is extinct, the Volvo 3CC demonstrates that there is an ongoing awareness by global carmakers to perfect more common alternative power sources.
Volvo business strategist Lex Kerssemakers commented on the development process of the 3CC saying, "Rather than refining existing cars and technologies for new markets, Volvo has listened, questioned and speculated about the future and has developed this all-new concept."
Lars Erik Lundin, general manager of Volvos Monitoring and Concept Cars center in California stated, "With the Volvo 3CC, Volvo Cars is pioneering a new way of looking at mobility so future generations can enjoy the same freedoms the car has given my generation. We believe it is necessary to show new ways to reduce pollution and congestion."
Like Toyotas hybrid-powertrain concepts or Fords H2-ICE motors, there is no doubt that the 3CC will have a positive influence on Volvos future efforts to produce a zero-emissions vehicle.