Volvo Might Have Permanently Stopped Developing Diesel Engines But It's Not That Simple

In what is historically a huge deal for the automotive industry and car history in general, Volvo, once a giant of diesel propulsion, could be shutting up shop for all diesel engines
Volvo Might Have Permanently Stopped Developing Diesel Engines But It's Not That Simple

Volvo, one of the manufacturers that first made diesel cars popular (and good) has announced that it may be permanently stopping developing the technology.

Citing Tesla as the prime example of a company that builds advanced, zero-emissions cars that people are ‘queueing up for,’ the Swedish brand has decided to call it quits on all of its diesel models.

Instead, Volvo is developing fully-electric and hybrid drivetrains across its lines, the first full EV from which will make its debut in 2019. It seems the company is using its relatively low build volumes to be more flexible and react faster than the German behemoths can.

Volvo Might Have Permanently Stopped Developing Diesel Engines But It's Not That Simple

The information comes from an interview Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson gave to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine. Non-German-speakers might have to translate the page in-browser. First on the agenda is a 48-volt electrical system similar to that already put into practise by Audi. It will be used to develop petrol-electric hybrids leaning towards a plug-in design, plus fully-electric cars.

The German title does make useful note of the fact that petrol engines don’t offer the same sort of long-legged towing ability as good diesels do; particularly larger and more powerful diesels. Volvo isn’t directly replacing diesel for heavy towing duties – at least not yet.

Volvo has already moved to a maximum-four-cylinders policy, with three-bangers on the way as well. We don’t know when the final diesel Volvo will be sold, but this one-time leviathan of diesel drive might just have started saying its goodbyes.

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Comments

lowie t

Idiots

05/17/2017 - 14:08 |
5 | 5
TheMindGarage

But this means ELECTRIC TANKS!!!

05/17/2017 - 14:10 |
15 | 3
Anonymous

James May approves.

05/17/2017 - 14:19 |
0 | 1
Anonymous

Oh no… Oh no no no no no! This is a nightmare come true! 😰😨😵😞😭

05/17/2017 - 14:19 |
2 | 2
Volvo Might Have Permanently Stopped Developing Diesel Engines But It's Not That Simple
Francis

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

You meant a dream come true right?

05/18/2017 - 07:18 |
2 | 1
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It’s a true utopic dream come true for me. But good on you for wishing more soot can be shot into every biker’s face because “I have 350 Nm out of my tdi bro!!!!” “Chip tune it to 420Nm, bro!!!!”

05/18/2017 - 09:27 |
0 | 3
Freddie Skeates

Bring back 5-pots!

05/17/2017 - 14:59 |
61 | 1

I stand behind this statement

05/17/2017 - 15:22 |
16 | 0

they still exist, they’re just called turbocharged 4-cylinders now

05/17/2017 - 19:36 |
13 | 2
Anonymous

Haha diesel aint going anywhere at least in America

05/17/2017 - 15:09 |
3 | 2
Erich Mohrmann

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Oh you just wait and see…

05/18/2017 - 06:18 |
3 | 0
Darnihx

Goddamnit Volvo, y u do this

05/17/2017 - 15:34 |
3 | 2

For the better of human kind? maybe? silly question

05/18/2017 - 09:25 |
0 | 3
Rekord 86

Great, finally somebody is doing something against the diesel in cars

05/17/2017 - 16:20 |
9 | 7
Penelope De leon

Uh! Too much haters over hereeee

05/17/2017 - 16:30 |
5 | 1