Volvo is preparing a new generation of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) for 2028 that could address one of the technology’s biggest limitations: electric range. The upcoming Volvo XC60 PHEV is expected to deliver 78 miles of all-electric range, while the XC90 will offer 73 miles before its gas engine starts.
PHEVs Move Toward Longer Electric Range
In theory, plug-in hybrids offer a practical middle ground between gasoline vehicles and fully electric cars. Drivers can charge them overnight and use electric power for daily driving, while a gasoline engine takes over once the battery is depleted.
In practice, many PHEVs have offered only about 30 to 40 miles of electric range. That can make frequent charging seem like too much effort for relatively limited electric driving, particularly when combined with the higher cost of a PHEV.
The average daily commute in the U.S. is a 41-mile round trip, according to the source article. That makes the limited electric range of many existing PHEVs a significant consideration for drivers who want to rely more heavily on electric power.
Volvo XC60 PHEV Targets 78 Miles of Range
The upcoming Volvo XC60 PHEV is set to use a 41.2-kWh battery that Volvo is confident will provide 78 miles of all-electric range. That would give the midsize SUV the longest all-electric range in the U.S. market.
The Volvo XC90 is also expected to offer an extensive electric-only range, with 73 miles available before its 2.0-liter gas engine kicks in.
Those figures could cover most daily commutes and leave additional electric range for errands. The longer range also provides a stronger incentive for owners to keep their vehicles charged at home.
Extended-Range EVs Could Challenge PHEVs
Volvo’s approach could soon face competition from extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs. These vehicles also use a combustion engine, but the engine is designed to power electric motors and charge the onboard battery rather than drive the wheels directly.
EREVs are expected to offer substantial electric-only range that could exceed Volvo’s upcoming PHEVs. However, their practicality and affordability remain to be seen.
Ford and Stellantis have been promoting EREVs for full-size trucks and SUVs, highlighting the instant torque and power associated with EVs while retaining the ability to refuel with gasoline when charging with electricity is not possible.
Neither automaker’s vehicles have reached the market yet. Stellantis has delayed its plans, while Ford’s next-generation F-150 Lightning remains nowhere in sight.
Volvo Sees PHEVs as a Bridge to EVs
As automakers reconsider the pace of the transition to fully electric vehicles, regular hybrids and PHEVs are increasingly being brought to market as an intermediate step.
Akhil Krishnan, Global Head of Program Management at Volvo Cars, told CarBuzz that Volvo began with the XC60 because developing a new vehicle targeting an 80-mile PHEV range was expected to take three years. The project ultimately took just under two years.
Volvo views its long-range PHEVs as a bridge to all-electric vehicles for its customers, according to Krishnan.
Volvo Plans 13 New Vehicles
Volvo has also announced plans for 13 new vehicles as part of what it describes as its “largest-ever product offensive.” The company said the vehicles will not necessarily follow a one-size-fits-all approach, with specific models tailored to individual markets.
Seven of those cars will be aimed specifically at Western markets, and the new product push could include more wagons.
The announcement comes as Volvo reports surprising strength in European markets, where the company is giving German automakers a run for the money.
