In the first half of this decade, there was a race to set a deadline for the old combustion engine. Volvo made early progress, announcing in early 2021 that it would go fully electric by the end of the decade. But like many other automakers, it has since backed away from its ambitious electric vehicle pledge. Swedish brand last year She adjusted her aim: By 2030, 90 to 100 percent of its portfolio will consist of either hybrids or fully electric vehicles.
How is it done? Not great. During September, electric vehicle sales were down 21 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Hybrid vehicles also saw a slight decline, down 1 percent year over year. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and EVs combined accounted for 227,317 units, or just 44.2 percent of total sales. however, Volvo It is still believed that the days of the combustion engine are numbered.
Last month, CEO Håkan Samuelsson predicted that “The industry will be electric in about 10 years.” However, it now looks like the Geely-owned brand will stick with internal combustion for a while longer. Talk to Car news europeThe 74-year-old CEO admitted that gas engines are likely to remain part of the portfolio until at least the end of the next decade:
‘We need a second generation of hybrids that will last until the end of the 2030s. We can’t dictate that (the end of combustion engines).’
Photo by: Volvo
Volvo is betting on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) as a bridge technology, with plans to sell them Reborn XC70 outside China. It’s already been confirmed for Europe, though Samuelsson says it likely won’t arrive on the continent before 2027. He explained that meeting various emissions and safety regulations takes time, as does adapting the infotainment system to run on Google’s Android Automotive platform.
Models like the new XC70 make sense for Volvo because of its long-range hybrid setup. The SUV features a large 39.6 kWh battery good for 112 miles (180 km) of electric range, although that figure is based on China’s lenient CLTC test cycle. It would certainly be less under WLTP or EPA standards.
Elsewhere, an XC90 replacement has also been confirmed. Received a full-size luxury SUV Second plastic surgery About a year ago, but at 10 years old, he is starting to show his age. according to Car Newsits successor may not arrive until 2028. When it does, it will be available as an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) with an electric range of about 100 miles.
Samuelson sees potential for EREVs. Unlike a conventional hybrid model, where the engine directly powers the wheels, the EREV’s combustion engine acts only as a generator to charge the battery. This setup addresses range anxiety without requiring a huge battery. Samuelson refers to EREVs as “Second generation hybrid” Or “more than one electric car with a backup engine.”
Whether in PHEV or EREV vehicles, the combustion engine still has a future in Volvo’s lineup despite previous plans for retirement. Company I stopped making diesel last year but intends to keep the gasoline engines for another 15 years or so.
