'All new model Volvo cars to be electric or hybrid from 2019'

Tabnabs

Sounds like either an incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid idea.

All cars sold by Volvo from 2019 onwards will be battery-powered, in what the company called a “historic end†to building models that only have an internal combustion engine.

Between 2019 and 2021, the firm will launch five 100% electric car models, and ensure the rest of its conventional petrol and diesel range offers a hybrid engine of some form. It is the first major manufacturer to make such a bold move.

Håkan Samuelsson, the Volvo chief executive, said: “This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car. 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.â€
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The carmaker, owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely, has yet to build a single fully electric car but already sells five plug-in hybrid models that can run a few dozen miles on battery power before switching to a conventional engine.

More than a quarter of sales of one of those existing models, the crossover SUV XC90, were plug-in hybrid versions last year, much higher than the 5% to 10% the company had anticipated.

But the pricing of that model suggests drivers will pay a premium for future Volvo cars – the basic plug-in hybrid version of the XC90 costs £61,650, £13,250 more than the basic diesel edition.

Several of the major carmakers, including Renault-Nissan, BMW and VW, have declared ambitious plans for electric cars, supported with grants by governments, which see them as a key way of tackling air pollution and climate change.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/05/volvo-cars-electric-hybrid-2019

Ubbquittious

Mercedes were supposed to stop making petrol/diesel cars by 2012 and that never happened. The press release machine needs to keep spinning

Guy:Incognito

Did the parent company quietly release a statement announcing a new car brand which exclusively sells badge engineered petrol and diesel only versions of volvo cars ?

Atlantic Dawn

It's only a matter of time in this country before the household charge point for the electric car will be levied to charge more than standard household electricity and there will be fines similar to using green diesel for anyone caught charging with ordinary metered domestic electricity. Some mad ultra fearless criminals who want to live on the edge of the law might charge their car with electricity they obtained from the sun.

colm_mcm

OSI wrote: »

Every Toyota on the road I see now from a Yaris up to the Rav4 seems to have a Hybrid badge stuck to the side of it, not surprised to see Volvo make a commitment like this and doesn't seem like it should be that much of a stretch.

26% so far this year, more than double last years percentage. A lot of that is down to the CHR hybrid which is outselling the Prius hybrid 4:1

J.pilkington

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

It's only a matter of time in this country before the household charge point for the electric car will be levied to charge more than standard household electricity and there will be fines similar to using green diesel for anyone caught charging with ordinary metered domestic electricity. Some mad ultra fearless criminals who want to live on the edge of the law might charge their car with electricity they obtained from the sun.

How's that tinfoil hat fitting you?

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote: »

26% so far this year, more than double last years percentage. A lot of that is down to the CHR hybrid which is outselling the Prius hybrid 4:1

Not surprised given the latest Prius is as Schwarzenegger says "one ugly mother ****er".