After launching their XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid SUV, Volvo has definitely taken the fight to the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi – while Lexus sits in the back of the class, nodding in disagreement.
Despite Lexus thinking that owning a plug-in hybrid car isn’t worth your time (time wasted recharging, that is), the other top premium car manufacturers in the world aren’t paying any attention. Volvo has long been a bit of an outsider to this segment, but recent generation models such as the S60, XC60 as well as the S80 and XC70 have gotten them back into the game and then some.
Currently, Volvo plans to expand their plug-in hybrid range, at least up until the market will be ready for all-electric vehicles. Volvo VP of product strategy, Lex Kerssemakers told Autocar that “Once there is a more sustainable business case behind full EV we can do it – our platform is scalable and fully flexible. But we must see how the EV business evolves and what pressures there are from fuel efficiency requirements and cities closing borders.”
Sounds like good thinking to us, and Volvo already being technically ready to make EVs shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody who knows just how far the Swedish car maker has come in the past 10 years.
Kerssemakers added that “With plug-in technology we have some answers now – good efficiency and the option of driving in and out of cities on electric power alone. For now, we can offer the best of both worlds.”
Seems like this is going to be the case, at least until one of those “both worlds” is going to have to come to an end.
PHOTOS
