All Volvo Vehicles To Feature At Least Partial Electric Propulsion By 2019
Many luxury automakers offer hybrid versions of their vehicles either to enhance performance or increase fuel economy, but Volvo will be the first to go “all in” on its journey to a time when all vehicles are powered electric motors and batteries instead of internal combustion engines and dino juice.
“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,” writes Volvo.
Volvo XC60 T8 Plug-in Hybrid
The Volvo electrification process will encompass three types of vehicles. There will be mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles introduced into its product mix. And Tesla had better watch out, because Volvo has plans to introduce three full EVs into its mainline vehicle lineup between 2019 and 2021. In addition, there will be two additional EVs added that will form the backbone of Volvo’s Polestar performance division (think BMW M or Mercedes-Benz AMG).
“This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “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.”
Volvo is no stranger to [partially] electrified vehicles. There are plug-in hybrid versions of its XC90, S90 and V90 full-size vehicles. There’s also a plug-in hybrid version of the newly launched XC60. The XC60 T8 features a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that pumps out 313 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The gasoline engine is paired up with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 10.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. When all is said and done, the XC60 T8 generates a combined 400hp and 472 lb-ft of torque.
With all of the power at your command, the Volvo XC60 T8 can hit 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.9 seconds.
