Volvo, the Geely-owned automaker, has recently shared its new plans to phase out diesel production. The company announced that it will officially cease production of all diesel vehicles in the coming months. This decision aligns with Volvo’s commitment to sustainability and its goal to only produce electric vehicles (EVs) from 2030 onwards.
According to Volvo CEO Jim Rowan, electric powertrains are the future and superior to combustion engines. They offer benefits such as less noise, less vibration, lower servicing costs, and zero tailpipe emissions. Volvo aims to create a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that meet customer expectations and contribute to combating climate change.
As part of its transition to EVs, Volvo sold its stake in the joint venture Aurobay last year, effectively divesting from internal combustion engine development. This decision means that the company will no longer fund any research and development for new combustion engines.
Volvo’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its production of electric vehicles. The company highlighted the United Nations Global Climate Stocktake report, which emphasizes the need for urgent action to protect the climate. Volvo’s chief sustainability officer, Anders Kärrberg, will collaborate with other companies at an Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) coalition event during Climate Week NYC to drive the transition to electric transportation.
In addition to ending diesel production, Volvo also announced a partnership with Connected Energy to recycle past EV batteries into containerized battery energy storage systems (BESS). This initiative is similar to Tesla’s agreement with battery recycler Redwood Materials. The BESS will be utilized at Volvo’s production facility in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Volvo’s decision to end diesel production is a significant step towards achieving climate neutrality and demonstrates the company’s commitment to combating climate change. Other industry leaders and policymakers are encouraged to follow suit and implement meaningful policies and actions to address the global climate crisis.
Sources:
– Volvo Press Release
– United Nations Global Climate Stocktake report