It’s clear that Volvo is committed to electrification and won’t look elsewhere for power sources.
Speaking to , Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson shared some insight on the automaker’s approach to the future, confirming that hydrogen isn’t in the cards at Volvo, as the Swedish automakers focuses on electricity.
Samuelsson says that it’s not just about lower emissions but “having a convenient powertrain that when you drive one it’s very difficult to say that there is anything wrong with it as a powertrain.”
Volvo plans on selling its first EV in 2019, but hasn’t shared on whether it will be a compact car or a larger, more premium offering. More EVs are in development though, so eventually electrification will come for both its small and large platforms.
For now, diesel engines will play a role but Samuelsson doesn’t expect that to last. He believes after 2020 diesel engines will be expensive, while twin-engine and all-electric cars will see their costs go down. “There is a crossover somewhere there where a twin-engine could be priced more or less equal as a diesel,” he said.
SEE ALSO: Volvo’s First EV Targets Bolt-Beating Range
But while other automakers such as Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are investing in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Samuelsson shares a similar stance as Tesla CEO Elon Musk. “The grass is always greener on the other side and there is always something new, but battery electrification is what we believe in,” he added. “With hydrogen you would require all new infrastructure once more, so I think there is a limit to what people will invest in.”
[Source: WardsAuto]
