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Volvo goes electric only

205075_The_new_Volvo_XC60
New Volvo XC60: from 2019 only available with electrification

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5 July 2017

OK, forget fuel pumps and pick up your three-pin plugs. Because Volvo is going fully electrified from 2019. It’s a case of RIP the internal combustion engine.

That’s because Volvo says it is placing electrification at the core of its future business.

“This is about the customer,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars (below right). “People increasingly demand electrified cars, and we want to respond to our customers’ current and future needs. You can now pick and choose whichever electrified Volvo you wish.”Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars

To be fair, it’s not entirely accurate that the internal combustion won’t be present – but it won’t propel a Volvo by itself. Volvo says its future range will include a portfolio of electrified cars, from fully electric cars, to plug-in hybrid cars and mild-hybrid cars.

Volvo says it will launch five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021, three of which will be Volvo models and two of which will be high-performance electrified cars from Polestar, the performance arm of Volvo. Full details of these models will be announced at a later date.

In addition to the five EVs, the range will be supplemented by a petrol and diesel plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid 48-volt options on all models.

“This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car,” said Mr Samuelsson. “Volvo Cars has stated that it plans to have sold a total of 1m electrified cars by 2025. When we said it we meant it. This is how we are going to do it.”

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Ian Fletcher, principal automotive analyst at IHS Markit commented:

“Volvo has confirmed to IHS Markit that ‘existing internal combustion engine cars will continue to be made, both diesel and petrol, but all newly launched cars will no longer offer any pure internal combustion engine options. Pure internal combustion engine cars will as a result be gradually phased out.’

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“Given the timeline for the implementation, this is likely to mean that the forthcoming S60/V60 which are forecast to go on sale during 2018, and the new XC40 which will be introduced before the end of the year, will have internal combustion engine-only options for a large part of their lifetime.”

Nevertheless, it’s a bold statement from Volvo.  One that Samuelsson says will help clear up city air.

So plug in and belt up for Volvo’s electric drive.

 

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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