Swedish carmaker
Volvo has officially brought in its first plug-in hybrids to the Philippines.
During the 'Future of Electric Forum,' organized by the local arm of the European marque, Volvo unveiled the
T8 Plug-in Hybrids, that are fitted on their three models, namely the
Volvo XC60 compact crossover, the
Volvo S90 estate, and the midsize premium SUV
Volvo XC90.
This is to attest the car maker's move for
safer and cleaner mobility.
Volvo's T8 Twin Engine is said to deliver high performance as well as low emission with its petrol engine and electric motor.
The trifecta of Volvo's plug-in hybrid in the country is set to deliver
more than 400 hp. For its fuel efficiency, the electrified powertrain can slash
up to 15 percent fuel savings and emission reductions in real-world driving.
Volvo's triumvirate--S90, XC60, and XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid Twin Engine models--offer a range of drive modes to suit every occasion,
from full Power mode, Pure electric mode, and the balanced Hybrid mode.
During the forum, crucial points in the pursuit of electric mobility and environmental change were discussed by distinguished guests from both the public and private sectors.
Volvo Philippines President and CEO Alberto Arcilla made the bold statement in creating change.
"We dare to make a change for the better, starting with how we create our cars," he said. "Volvo has always been cognizant of our part in environmental issues. That is the reason why we have incorporated care for the environment as one of our core values. As early as the 1970s, Volvo had already made concrete steps in finding solutions to environmental challenges. Since then, Volvo has pushed the boundaries in addressing the environmental impact that our cars make."
Aside from being a founding member of the UN Global Compact, Volvo is also the
first premium car manufacturer to declare an
industry-leading commitment to electrify its model range, with
fully-electric cars making up half of global
sales by 2025.
Volvo Asia Pacific’s Head of Propulsion Energy Systems and Controls and Calibration, Niclas Bratt, also shared Volvo's plans and ambitions. According to him, it is high time to go electric with the availability of high-level technology and vehicles that are easy and convenient to drive, environmentally-friendly, and that offer excellent performance coupled with low running cost.
Volvo's Market Area Director for Asia Pacific, Jakob Olsson, further trained the spotlight on Volvo's plans for pursuing a more electric future, starting the first fully-electric car in 2019 and moving towards achieving
1 million electrified vehicles on the road by the year 2025.
Other guests also gave insightful talks including His Excellency, Mr. Harald Fries of the Embassy of Sweden to Manila. Also present to deliver and share significant information are Rene Pineda, Jr. President of the Partnership for Clean Air, Ms. Kathleen Dematera, Transport Program Coordinator of Clean Air Asia, and Atty. Mike Toledo, Managing Director of the MVP Group of Companies as panelists.
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