The Volvo C30 Electric is equipped with three climate systems: one supplies the passengers with heating or cooling; one cools or warms the battery pack as necessary; and the electric motor and power electronics are water-cooled.
The C30 Electric features a bio-ethanol powered heater for climate control in the passenger cabin—a solution that makes it possible to get comfortable heating in cold winter conditions without compromising the battery driving range. The car’s ethanol tank can carry 14.5 liters of bio-ethanol.
It is also possible to run the climate unit on electricity from the batteries. In electric mode an immersion heater warms up the coolant in the climate unit.
The driver can program and control the climate unit to suit the trip. Ethanol is the default mode that is used when the battery capacity is needed for driving extend mobility to its maximum. However, on shorter distances electricity can be used to power the climate system.
—Lennart Stegland, director of Volvo Cars’ Special Vehicles
Volvo has been testing the C30 in winter conditions in temperatures as low as -20 °C (-4 °F).
In addition to the standard test regime for Volvo cars, the company has developed several new test methods for the electric vehicles. More than 200 different tests have been performed on the C30 Electric.