Looking to the future
Volvo Cars continues to focus heavily on advanced green technology and is now taking yet another major step forward in keeping with the company's over-riding vision - DRIVe Towards Zero. A unique joint project together with Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall is prompting the production of battery-powered Volvos featuring plug-in hybrid technology as early as 2012.
Plug-in electrical hybrids in production by 2012
There are many benefits to plug-in electrical hybrids: carbon dioxide emissions are far lower and with an electric motor offering higher power, the car's performance is also far better. Being able to offer a truly attractive car that does not compromise on the other important properties that the customer wants is an absolute precondition for the market to shift towards more environmentally sustainable alternatives that really do make a difference.
Research continues into battery-powered cars
For short distances in city traffic, dedicated battery-powered cars may well be the next step. Volvo Cars is therefore researching into this area. There are still many challenges that have to be solved with battery cars and the company is working hard to find alternative ways of reducing battery cost, increasing their performance and ensuring that Volvo's high safety requirements are met at all times. At present, there are no battery-powered cars in Volvo's product plans, but the possibility of introducing new green technology is under constant review.