GreenCarReports.com - ELVIIS Keeps Your Volvo Electric Car Rocking...

The King may be dead, but your electric Volvo won't be, thanks to the ELVIIS research project.

Swedish automaker Volvo has announced its participation in the Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure (ELVIIS) project, to improve the electric car charging process.

Together with Ericsson, Swedish utility company Göteborg Energi, and the Viktoria Institute, Volvo Car Corporation is helping to develop the future of smart charging.

What is smart charging?

Essentially, smart charging is a means of taking the charging process beyond simply plugging in and forgetting about it.

While one of the benefits of electric cars is being able to do other things while you're "filling it up", smart charging reassures drivers by keeping them updated on the state of charge.

The system uses GPS to verify the charging location. Then, the driver pre-sets timing and charging amount on a touch screen inside the car, or remotely - via a smartphone, for example.

The car communicates with the grid via the mobile network, which can even time the charge to ensure low energy prices are used. If the charging is interrupted for any reason, the driver can be informed.

Conveniently, rather than having to pay at a particular charging station, the cost of any charge can be added to your own utility bill.

Volvo is currently testing the system with its 2012 Volvo C30 Electric cars, equipped with a 7-inch touch screen from which to control the charging.

The idea behind the technology is that running an electric car is made no more difficult than running an internal combustion vehicle. The driver can enjoy all the usual electric car benefits, with as little hassle as possible when it comes to charging.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073329_elviis-keeps-your-volvo-electric-car-rocking

Volvo’s next safety frontier -- animals

CHICAGO -- Having long ago made a name for itself in vehicle safety, Volvo is turning its attention to protecting animals.

Or more correctly, protecting animals and drivers from each other.

The automaker is working on a new-generation safety system that detects animals --ranging from Swedish moose to family pets -- in the road.

“It’s active safety,” Volvo Cars of North America CEO John Maloney said today, speaking on the sidelines of the Chicago Auto Show.

“There are plenty of ways that people get into accidents. They hit objects. At the last moment, if they don’t see something, they’ll try to swerve when it’s too late. That will damage the car. And if it’s a pet, people don’t want their pets killed.”

Maloney declined to say when the animal system will begin appearing on Volvo vehicles, other than saying “it’s a couple of years out.”

“It’s a radar and camera-based system that’s looking for images in front of the car,” Maloney said. “If you’re not doing anything, it will intervene and either slow the car, depending on how close it is, or completely stop the car if it has enough time.”

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120208/OEM04/120209814#ixzz1m13tPpX9