Volvo Committed to Electric and Hybrid Future: Discontinuation of Petrol-Only Models Expected by 2019

In a bold stride towards a more sustainable automotive landscape, Volvo, the revered Swedish vehicle manufacturer, has declared its commitment to removing petrol-only vehicles from its line-up by 2019. This pioneering decision has essentially embarked the company on a journey to break free from the shackles of conventional internal combustion engines, investing in the future that embraces electric or hybrid power for its comprehensive range of automobiles.

Volvo’s Global CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, underscored the company’s stance by attributing the groundbreaking decision to the increasing consumer demand for electrified cars. Samuelsson claims, “We intend to cater to our customers’ present and future requirements. Henceforth, you will have the liberty to select from a range of electrified Volvos.” This implies that their leap towards an electrified portfolio is primarily driven by consumer preference, despite indications that the hybrid market itself may be waning. Furthermore, Volvo’s positive step towards electrification could potentially stir a ripple effect among other manufacturers, contributing towards a industry-wide orientation towards electric power.

However, the transition might not be instantaneous, and petrol-fueled Volvos will not disappear overnight. Fans of the iconic Swedish marque can expect to witness conspicuous changes as late as 2025 particularly in developed markets. Meanwhile, emerging markets, where the electricity supply is considerably precarious and insufficient, might not welcome this development with open arms immediately. The delayed transformation is also due to Volvo’s significant fleet of petrol-driven vehicles that need to phase out gradually, making way for their electric successors. This decomposition often implicates repurposing parts of the old vehicles for newer models, or exporting them to markets not yet ready to embrace hybrids or electric vehicles.

Addressing concerns of potential customers wary of the complete switch to electric, Volvo guarantees that hybrid cars utilize the same electric technology, enhancing fuel economy due to a powerful battery supporting the engine. The introduction of hybrid vehicles can potentially pave the way for a smoother and less disruptive transition towards pure electric vehicles, ensuring that the brand witnesses as minimal losses as possible in the process.

This pronouncement is a significant milestone for Volvo and marks the entity as the first major automaker to commit to such a daring initiative. Bearing testimony to Volvo’s continuous strive for innovation, it had announced a partnership with Uber last year banking on delivering fully autonomous vehicles by 2021. Pledging to sell a staggering 1 million electric or hybrid vehicles by 2025, Volvo’s strategy has indeed been warmly received by environmental activists.