Volvo Cars India has announced its first plug-in hybrid that’s to be assembled locally at its Bengaluru plant by 2019 end, the Volvo XC90. This makes Volvo the first company to make such an announcement, and potentially the first company to assemble plug-in hybrid cars locally in India next year.
Volvo India also added that alongwith Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid variant, a range of plug-in hybrids will be scheduled for launch over the next three years. Local assembly would probably make their cars more affordable as compared to today. As major automakers globally are grappling with what the future of automobiles holds, and the importance of electrification, Volvo too remains focused on electrification.
An electrified future would be at the cost of phasing out conventional combustion engine / powertrains. Volvo is committed to ensuring electric variants of all cars from 2019 onward. The development pertaining to India was made at a Volvo Car India press con highlighting a clean air initiative at Embassy of Sweden in Delhi.
Volvo Cars’ electric commitment brings into its realm electric variants ranging from mild hybrids, PHEV, and BEV. For Volvo India this will take shape as a XC90 plug-in hybrid first. Volvo India introduced its first PHEV in India in 2016.
While there is a need to focus on electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the country, with daily driving requirement in many households ranging at less than 30 kms, simple installations at the workplace and home could be a great way forward. For plug-in hybrids a nationwide infrastructure setup is not a prerequisite, and appeal as an intermediate solution.
With a rise in pollutants in the air we breathe, and harm to environment there’s more awareness now that this is a real problem that affects us all and needs to be addressed. A plug-in hybrid is 60 percent cleaner and has flexibility of operation through an electric motor and hybrid powertrain. Volvo will work on the SPA platform to support electrification for a central battery position for improved driving dynamics.
