Volvo to go all electric from 2019

via Tallbloke’s Talkshop
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The internal combustion engine will still be on offer, as autofreaks.com reports, but what the headline means is that there will be at least some element of electric propulsion, including electric-only models, in every Volvo from 2019. Will other car makers follow?

Volvo today announced that every model it launches from 2019 will have an electric motor, marking the historic end of cars that only have an internal combustion engine (ICE) and placing electrification at the core of its future business.

The announcement represents one of the most significant moves by any car maker to embrace electrification and highlights how over a century after the invention of the internal combustion engine electrification is paving the way for a new chapter in automotive history.

“This is about the customer,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “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.”

Volvo will introduce a portfolio of electrified cars across its model range that consist of fully electric cars, plug in hybrid cars and mild hybrid cars.

The company will launch 5 fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021, 3 of which will be Volvo models and 2 of which will be high performance electrified cars from Polestar. These 5 cars will be supplemented by a range of petrol and diesel plug in hybrid and mild hybrid 48 volt options on all models.

This means that there will in future be no Volvo cars without an electric motor, as pure ICE cars are gradually phased out and replaced by ICE cars that are enhanced with electrified options.

Continued here.