Climate neutral in 2040 – Volvo Cars’ conversion to electric cars is an important part of the investment


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As early as 2025, Volvo Cars plans that half of its car sales will consist of electric cars, while the other half of sales will be hybrid cars.

A step towards achieving the goal of being climate neutral by 2040. To succeed with the very extensive electrification, Volvo Cars invests heavily in developed production technology and its own installation of electric car batteries.

The automotive industry is developing at an explosive pace and electrification is a fact both within the industry itself and in society at large. Volvo Cars, which is one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, is in a massive transition phase from diesel and petrol-powered cars – to electric ones. Anna Davidsson is responsible for Advanced Engineering and External Research in Production.

– Volvo Cars aims to give customers the freedom to travel sustainably and safely, we call this “Freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way”. We have big goals and are undergoing rapid change. In 2030, we will only sell fully electric cars. At the same time, we will be climate neutral in 2040 and our ambition is to reduce the footprint on the environment with the help of line sales and direct contact with our customers, says Anna Davidsson.

Electrification began as early as 1976

But despite Volvo Cars’ major transition from diesel and petrol-powered cars, Volvo Cars is no newcomer. As early as 1976, they started working with electrification in the company and a number of years ago, Volvo Cars decided to build its own battery lab in order to be able to develop the right properties and set the right requirements for its battery suppliers. The batteries undergo complex tests to ensure durability and performance. In connection with each factory that manufactures electric cars, the battery components are then assembled into finished batteries in a separate battery assembly factory. And that a circular work is carried out in this factory is a matter of course for the company. Ann Van Damme is a Technical Expert in Production and Electrified Vehicles and works mainly project-related to the assembly of Volvo Car’s future battery and hybrid cars.

– The battery holder itself is made of aluminum, and we want 40% of that aluminum to be recycled. Some of the cobalt in the batteries has also been recycled. Right now we are developing the batteries so that in the end they will not contain any cobalt at all. Sustainability is always important. Climate change is the ultimate safety test and our development begins and ends with the climate, says Ann Van Damme.

– In order to efficiently assemble the batteries and develop the other impact of electrification on the factories, extensive studies are being carried out and Volvo Cars also works closely with various universities and institutes.

50 different production-related projects

– Right now, Volvo Cars is working on about 50 different production-related projects, where about 30 of them take place in collaboration with others. The work to promote a circular and sustainable economy is large, which is evident not only through electrification but also in Volvo Car’s circular work within its own factories.

– We aim to reduce our energy consumption by 30% by 2025. We will also reduce waste by 20% by maximizing the use of materials. In our various production countries, we plan to reduce water consumption by 15%. We work closely with other players who are also developing new ways to make production more sustainable. Including Northvolt and SSAB, says Anna Davidsson.

Volvo Car’s promise is impressive and the proactive work is an important component in both Volvo Car’s circular goals as well as the ambition to radically reduce carbon dioxide emissions and thus the footprint on the environment. And the change will happen quickly.

– There is one thing I know about the future – the change will not slow down. Electric vehicles as a concept are not as mature as internal combustion engine vehicles have been. We must therefore be flexible and offer a wide variety of vehicles to meet all kinds of needs, Ann Van Damme concludes.

In order for development to progress, it is important to be constantly updated on industry news. The digital fair Scanautomatic & Process Technology is an exciting meeting place for knowledge exchange.

Scanautomatic is the meeting place for the automation and digitization of the industry of the future. Together with ProcessTeknik and Nordic Food Industry, Scanautomatic is a cross-industry meeting place with three trade fairs under one roof. With the goal of creating increased competence around common challenges, we focus on three areas – sustainability, smart industry and energy. Scanautomatic is arranged 18-20 October 2022 at the Swedish Fair in Gothenburg.


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