Volvo to ditch diesel ahead of EV-only by 2030

Volvo Cars will cease producing diesel-powered models globally by early next year as it prepares to be an all-electric brand by 2030.

The automaker announced the move at the Climate Week NYC event after it decided to stop developing new combustion engines last year.

While diesel vehicles typically consume less fuel than petrol equivalents, a litre of diesel contains more carbon than unleaded. They also produce a greater amount of harmful NO_x emissions than petrol engines.

Diesel exhaust fumes have been classed as a group 1 carcinogen – the highest level – observed to exacerbate health conditions such as asthma, and have been attributed to causing more deaths than road accidents.

Electric powertrains are our future, and superior to combustion engines

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Volvo Cars, which was acquired by Chinese brand Geely in 2010 from Ford, aims to be carbon neutral by 2040.

Chief executive Jim Rowan said Volvo has completely committed its research and development into pure electric vehicles with no more money to be invested in ICE powertrains.

“Electric powertrains are our future, and superior to combustion engines: they generate less noise, less vibration, less servicing costs for our customers and zero tailpipe emissions,” Rowan said.

“We’re fully focused on creating a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that deliver on everything our customers expect from a Volvo – and are a key part of our response to climate change.”

March 2, 2021: Volvo to go fully electric by 2030

Volvo is the latest carmaker to commit to going fully electric by 2030, with a completely new family of electric cars that will only be available for sale online.

The Swedish carmaker has given itself nine years to phase out vehicles in its global portfolio with internal combustion engines, including hybrids.

Its transition towards becoming a fully electric carmaker is part of its ambitious climate plan, which seeks to consistently reduce the life cycle carbon footprint per car through ‘concrete action’.

In making this decision, Volvo is taking a punt that EV-friendly government legislation across its markets and rapid expansion of accessible high-quality charging infrastructure, will accelerate consumer acceptance of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Its thinking was also inspired by strong demand for its electrified vehicles in recent years and a belief that the market for internal combustion engine (ICE) cars is a shrinking one.

“There is no long-term future for cars with an internal combustion engine,” said chief technology officer Henrik Green.

“We are firmly committed to becoming an electric-only carmaker and the transition should happen by 2030. It will allow us to meet the expectations of our customers and be a part of the solution when it comes to fighting climate change.”

Volvo’s transition to an all-electric range will see BEVs account for 50 percent of its sales by 2025, with the rest hybrids.

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By then the range will include five new models across passenger car and SUV segments, as teased in the above image.

The move towards full electrification comes together with an increased focus on online sales and a more complete, attractive and transparent consumer offer under the name Care by Volvo.

All fully electric models will be available online only at preset prices for either purchase or subscription in conjunction with its dealer networks around the world.

Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo’s head of global commercial operations explained the company’s future will be defined by three pillars: electric, online and growth.

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“We want to offer our customers peace of mind and a care-free way of having a Volvo, by taking away complexity while getting and driving the car. Simplification and convenience are key to everything we do.”

The Chinese-owned Volvo launched its first fully electric car, the XC40 Recharge in 2020 and is about to pull the covers off its second BEV, a new model in the 40 Series.