Volvo Adds New Hybrid Powertrains, Diesels To Continue

In conjunction with the introduction of the facelifted Volvo XC90 flagship, Volvo has expanded its portfolio of electrified powertrains.

Customers will be able to select the mild hybrids that are available with both petrol and diesel engines, beginning with the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA)-based models: the 90-series and 60-series models.

Volvo says the new mild hybrid powertrains offers drivers up to 15 percent in fuel savings and emissions reductions in real-world driving.

The company is introducing the ‘B’ badged mild hybrid powertrain to meet its own goal of offering only electrified cars by 2025 and a target of 1 million units of sales. Volvo also aims to have climate neutral manufacturing operations by the middle of the next decade.

The new ‘B’ badged powertrains will begin with the XC90 and XC60 models first. The XC90 will be available with the B5-badged mild hybrid petrol or diesel variant, as well as a B6-badged petrol mild hybrid powertrain.

The XC60 meanwhile is available with the said-three variants above, plus a smaller B4 diesel mild hybrid.

While Volvo has not divulged the details of the mild hybrid powertrain, it should follow the industry-trend of having a belt-driven starter-generator (BSG), a compact lithium-ion battery, and a 48-volt electrical architecture.

Geely, the holding company of Volvo, recently launched the Borui GE sedan that offers a mild hybrid powertrain. The system consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivering 180 PS and 265 Nm of torque and the BSG adds another 16 PS and 50 Nm of torque.