Frankfurt motor show 2007 - Volvo Concepts

In the battle for green credentials, Volvo appears to have stolen the upper hand by bringing out an electric car that is capable of travelling 66 miles on battery charge alone.

The car, which is called the ReCharge Concept and based on a C30, features individual electric motors in each wheel and a battery pack that can be charged via a normal electric wall socket.

Once the battery is 70% drained, the car's 1.6-litre Flexifuel engine starts up to recharge it.

The driver also has the option of switching the engine on and off in order to use the stored battery power at the most efficient times.

The battery can be recharged from empty in three hours, although a one-hour charge is enough to give the car a 30-mile range.

Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 9 seconds and the car has a top speed of 100mph.

Carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be 66% lower than a conventional car's, depending on the source of the electricity.

It's also estimated that the ReCharge's operating costs are 80% lower than a conventional car's when in electric mode.

If a driver goes beyond the battery's range and the engine kicks in, economy on a 93-mile (150km) journey is 124mpg. Once the battery is run down and the engine provides full power, it records about 45mpg.