Volvo takes major step towards electrified future

Mar 13 2018 | by Louise Woodhams

Volvo Cars has today unveiled its upgraded and newly developed electrified powertrain options, to be made available across its entire model range in the future.

The company has upgraded its existing Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain, predicting that it will account for 25 per cent of total production, while at the same time confirming that plug-in options will now be available on every model it produces. Moreover, Volvo Cars will introduce a range of mild hybrids in the coming months, starting with diesel and petrol versions on the XC90 and XC60 SUV models.

These mild hybrids for the first time offer customers Volvo’s advanced kinetic energy-recovery braking system, which is coupled with its existing internal combustion engines to create a new integrated electrified powertrain, under its new ‘B’ badge, and offers drivers up to 15 per cent fuel savings and emission reductions in real-world driving.

The Swedish brand expects its new ‘B’-badged powertrains to gradually become the new standard, moving it closer to its goal that by the middle of the next decade all of its cars will be electrified.

The upgraded T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid features a new battery and brake-by-wire advanced battery charging. The range of the T8 powertrain has increased by around 15 per cent, and this powertrain is available on all 90 and 60 series cars.

The XC90 will be available with a B5-badged mild-hybrid petrol or diesel variant, as well as a B6-badged petrol mild hybrid.

On the XC60, customers will be able to choose between a B5 mild-hybrid petrol or diesel variant, a B4 diesel mild hybrid as well as a B6 petrol mild hybrid. The B5 petrol will be available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The company’s smaller Compact Modular Architecture-based XC40 SUV will also receive a new electrified option, in the form of a T5 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid. A second, T4 Twin Engine, plug-in hybrid option will follow later.

All UK-market details are to be confirmed.

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