If you take a look at Volvo’s history, you can see a strong trend, especially in the recent past: away from combustion engines and towards electric drives. For a while, this included the combination of both drive worlds in one car. In the meantime, the journey is heading in the direction of “pure electric”. This naturally raises questions that we would like to answer in this article. Here is our overview of the reasons why Volvo sees electric as the future of their cars.
Volvo electric and legal requirements
Whether you like it or not: the era of combustion engines in cars is coming to an end. Already, numerous governments have announced that in future only new cars that run without petrol or diesel will be allowed to be registered. For car manufacturers, this naturally creates a certain pressure if they want to continue selling cars in the future. In a way, this development was predictable. Some producers have resisted the switch to alternative drive systems for a long time. Other younger companies have based their market launch on e-drives from the beginning. In Volvo’s case, there is a very long history that started when nobody was talking about electric drives in cars. Nevertheless, they recognised the signs of the times and started researching and investing in this direction in good time. As a result, the Swedish company is well prepared for the changes (and cuts) of the future.
Volvo Electric and the environment
It is clear that we as humans have reached a point where we can no longer continue as before. We are part of an ecosystem that keeps itself alive. In the past, humanity has not always covered itself with glory in this respect … As a result, we now have problems that give real cause for concern. For example, the hole in the ozone layer did not happen by chance and other challenges are ultimately “handmade”. Even if the “big turnaround” has not yet taken place in every respect, a development towards a greater sense of responsibility towards our environment and thus also towards our fellow human beings (including future generations) is discernible.
To avoid misunderstandings: Doing away with combustion engines in cars alone will not solve the problem of environmental pollution. This requires many more steps in many more areas. But it is also no use if no one does anything because “the others don’t move either”. Alternative propulsion systems that no longer blow smoke into the atmosphere are an important step towards this. How big the effects can be could be seen during the Corona pandemic: When air traffic was drastically restricted, the improvement could even be seen from space. Imagine a world where cities are no longer smothered in a haze of exhaust fumes and every human and animal there can breathe clean air again.
Some counter that electric cars would be a “token solution”. Their reasoning is that it makes no sense if the cars no longer smoke. Instead, the coal-fired power plants smoke all the more (the electricity for the cars has to come from somewhere!). This is true, and a real improvement that is more than tokenism also needs clean ways of generating electricity. However, much is in the works here and some has already been implemented. The goal is cars that no longer “stink” and run on electricity generated in an environmentally friendly way. We are moving towards this and every day is another step in a better direction.
Fuel availability and prices
Anyone who has been driving a car for 30 years will often think back wistfully to the days when petrol and diesel were available at a fraction of today’s price. In fact, prices have risen massively and are still doing so. We can confidently assume that this upward spiral will not be reversed. The “good times” are over. At Hüsser & Palkoska AG we are very proud of our great coffee. But all attempts to read the coffee grounds have not shown us that prices will now finally become stable. In fact, you don’t have to read coffee grounds to realise that a car with an internal combustion engine will become a luxury in the medium future. For the reason that only a very few people can still afford it. And the people who depend on their car to get to work will not be among the lucky ones in most cases …
One could counter that looking into a crystal ball does not reveal how electricity prices will develop. This is true and we can only speculate here. But the prices for petrol and diesel are already eating up more of some incomes than is good. So it is probably time to say goodbye to them.
Volvo Electric and Service Friendly
There was a time when cars were very simple. A look at the first automobiles shows structures that actually look more like horse-drawn carriages with an engine than a car. Those days are long gone. Cars are now extremely complex structures consisting of a huge number of mechanical parts. And then the spark plugs have to be changed … the exhaust is shot … the carburettor has also exceeded its life expectancy and … somehow all that costs money. An electric car, on the other hand, is much simpler to build. Simply because you need far fewer parts to move it from the spot. For you as a customer, this means that you will save a lot of money on service and repairs in the medium term. Sure, tyres will remain worn items and even light bulbs will not last forever in the future. Nevertheless, a massive simplification will take place. This is a good thing because manufacturers can then concentrate more on what really counts: Driving safety, comfort and driving experience. To put it bluntly: twenty more bolts do not add to the fun of driving. In this respect, Volvo will definitely remain one of the leading brands in the future. The term “Swedish luxury” on four wheels is not without reason synonymous with cars from the Swedish brand. This will not change, and the very high life expectancy of these cars will not change with Volvo Electric, on the contrary. We look forward to the future with Volvo and you!
Yours Hüsser & Palkoska AG
PS: Our famous coffee is already available today. Why don’t you stop by and have a look!
