After announcing the decision to revise its targets to become a fully electric brand, Volvo now seems to be betting on a new generation of plug-in hybrid models, with a long, although unspecified, electric range.
In an interview with “Automotive News Europe”, Erik Severinson, Volvo’s director of products and strategy, recently revealed that the electric range of the new plug-in hybrids will feature a “significant update” compared to the approximately 70 km electric-only range of the newly unveiled XC90.
The same representative of the Swedish brand confirmed that new plug-in hybrids will continue to utilize Volvo’s SPA platform, introduced about a decade ago, which will benefit from batteries with higher energy density and more efficient electric motors developed for next-generation electric vehicles.
“The SPA1 is a very flexible architecture”, said Severinson. “We can continue to update the SPA1 for the new generation of PHEVs with greater range.”
Remember that Volvo announced in early September that it will no longer be 100% electric by 2030 and now expects that 90 to 100% of its global sales volume by 2030 will consist of electrified models.
Thus, the brand’s portfolio will continue to include mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models starting in 2030, even though Volvo maintains the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
The company justified that this decision was motivated by changes in market conditions and the demand for 100% electric models, which has seen a global slowdown in recent times.
By the end of 2025, Volvo expects to achieve a percentage of 50 to 60% of electrified products, and well before the end of this decade, the Swedish brand will have a complete line of fully electric vehicles available, allowing the brand to transition to full electrification when and as market conditions become suitable.
