Volvo has revealed that it plans to introduce plug-in hybrid vehicles across its entire range, as well as develop an EV to go on sale by 2019.
The Swedish manufacturer says that it expects electrified cars to account for up to 10% of sales in the medium term.
The company will shortly launch an XC90 PHEV, which it calls the T8 Twin Engine All-Wheel Drive and features an electric motor on the rear axle developed by GKN, and the next version of the firm’s S90 premium sedan will also feature a PHEV model.
Volvo plans to use a mixture of all-wheel and front-wheel drive powertrains to make electrification possible across its range.
It has developed its new compact modular architecture platform that underpins its 40 series cars to take full-electric powertrain configurations from the start. The CMA cars will use a new 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that has been developed by Volvo for its smaller cars.
Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars, said: “We believe that the time has come for electrified cars to cease being a niche technology and enter the mainstream. We are confident that in two years’ time, 10% of Volvo’s global sales will be electrified cars.”
October 19, 2015