When an automaker decides to bring an electric vehicle to market, engineers spend years developing everything from the battery pack to the motor to the exterior styling. But the work doesn't stop there. Once it has a car, the manufacturer must prove it is safe, reliable and user-friendly.

Volvo has shared a behind-the-scenes look at what it is doing to test, analyze and hone the C30 Electric. It's similar to what General Motors, Nissan and others have gone through bringing the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and other cars with cords to market — minus the snowy roads and cool Swedish streetscapes, of course.

The C30 Electric is, as the name suggests, an electric version of the C30 hatchback. But converting an existing model isn't as easy as some might think. Volvo says it assembled a team of 100 engineers and other specialists for the research and development program, an effort it says was as comprehensive as developing a new vehicle from scratch.

The first video provides an overview of the car, with lots of detail shots and an annoying soundtrack.