Volvo EV will get a Detroit premiere

Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo unit will take the wraps off an updated version of its all-electric C30 concept car next month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, AutoTech Daily reported Friday.

Volvo, which is in the process of being sold to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, aims to begin fleet testing of 50 EVs in Europe within two years and retail sales in 2012.

Unlike the prototype EV Volvo showed in September, the premium hatchback being readied for Detroit includes a complete interior with full instrumentation and enhanced battery packaging.

Powered by a 24-kWh lithium-ion battery -- twice the size of the battery used in the original C30 EV concept -- the electric C30 has a 93-mile driving range and a top speed of 81 mph. It takes eight hours to fully recharge the battery.

The car's electric motor is fitted under the hood, and its 617 pounds of batteries are installed in the propshaft tunnel and the space normally occupied by the fuel tank. Volvo says the batteries are encapsulated, and the surrounding structure has been reinforced to ensure the electric model meets Volvo's strict safety levels.