Volvo to drop traditional engines (apart from in hybrids) by 2019

[muriel_volestrangler]

---snip---

Volvo has become the first traditional carmaker to signal the end of the internal combustion engine by saying all its cars will have an electric motor in three years' time.

The Chinese-owned firm, best known for its emphasis on driver safety, is not killing petrol and diesel altogether.

By 2019 all of its cars will be either all-electric, or hybrids which combine electric and conventional engines.
...
"This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car," said Hakan Samuelsson, chief executive of Volvo's car-making division.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40505671

[brush]

1. That's huge if it happens. They'll be giving Tesla a run for their money.

Haven't heard of Volvo developing said engines though.

2019 is just a year and a half away.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. They do already sell plugin hybrids

http://www.volvocars.com/uk/about/our-innovations/plugin-hybrids

[FBaggins]

3. The BBC summary is a bit misleading

It isn't that all traditional engines will be gone from their lineup by 2019... it's that any new or redesigned model after the 2019 model year will meet that standard.

Volvo can easily have 5-6 years between generations of a given model. So there could easily be non-hybrid gasoline engines still in their lineup through 2025/2026.

Still pretty impressive.