Ah, Sweden. If ever you think of northern Europe and its magnificent landscapes dominated by unspoiled forests and vast lakes, you’d most likely be imagining the rustic countryside of any of the Nordic countries in the Scandinavian Peninsula—Norway, Finland, or Sweden. Such breathtaking swaths of earth and water that are home to a unique range of flora and fauna must have inspired many of their citizens to respect Mother Nature and protect the natural environment and the fragile ecosystems it supports.
I’m not surprised that the famous environmental child activist Greta Thunberg would hail from Sweden, and her global Climate Strike movement daring world leaders to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change would originate from her native land.
And there’s a whole generation of Gretas growing up in Sweden who are doing their part for the environment. An NBC news story on January 10, 2020, featured students at the Orminge Skola Elementary School in a suburb in Stockholm who left their sneakers and boots at the door because they wanted to reduce the use of harmful floor cleaning chemicals in the school rooms.
That report, written by Linda Givetash and Vladimir Banic, added that caring for the environment has been integrated into every aspect of the day for students at the school. There, the students practice composting by collecting their leftover lunches into a container.
When it comes to developing that sense of personal responsibility for the environment, Sweden surely starts its citizens young, so that when they’re all grown up (and boy, do these Nordic people grow—on average, they’re among the tallest in the world), they carry these values into any professional endeavor.
It’s no different when it comes to the country’s automotive industry. Its most prominent marque, Volvo, has had the environment engraved into its DNA from the very start. Despite its headquarters’ rather intimidating façade—auto historian Jonathan Mantle once described the marble-corridor head offices atop a rocky, rainy outcrop outside Gothenburg as “Castle Volvo”— the brand at its very core has its head and heart at the right place, producing vehicles not only to transport but also to protect its passengers, and to make as little impact on the environment as possible. So don’t be surprised if some industry observers liken Volvo cars to tanks in terms of durability and occupant protection systems (think side impact protection system and three-point seat-belts that Volvo pioneered), while at the same time, they’re also lauded for having sustainable materials.
The same was true then, and it still is up to now, even as the global transport industry embraces more and more the shift to vehicle electrification. It has always felt like Volvo had foreseen this impending change long ago, and now that the world’s top automakers are scrambling to make up for lost time, this Swedish brand seems to have quietly and effortlessly transitioned.
So, it really just felt like another elegant day at the office for the people over at Volvo Cars Philippines when they unveiled on October 4 the two all-electric SUV models the Volvo C40 and XC40 Recharge Twin. The “office,” in this case, was the plush North Court of the Rockwell Power Plant Mall in Makati City. Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Cars Philippines, shared a bit of history to remind guests that Volvo was the first automaker to declare its commitment at the United Nations Conference on the Environment in 1972 to become climate neutral by the year 2040. Let that sink in. A full 50 years before the terms “carbon neutral” and “net zero emissions” became the rallying cry of many automakers today, Volvo had already made such a promise.
“It was an ambitious move, but not impossible,” Arcilla said. “Volvo’s groundbreaking electrification strategy was recognized by the United Nations, and has been now emulated by other carmakers,” he added.
Recognizing potentials from the limitations
What has made Volvo such a unique automobile brand—a visionary in a time of dwindling resources amidst skyrocketing human demand—is best explained by Keith Schafer, head of operations for Volvo Cars Asia Pacific.
In my one-on-one interview with Keith, he explained, “We grew up recycling a lot of things. Our country has had limited resources. We have had tough winters going back 200, 300 years, when we were still farmers and fishermen. So that habit had become ingrained in our DNA. We have had centuries upon centuries of dealing with nature.”
Keith observed that maintaining the balance of nature has caused the Swedish population to stay relatively low, and most of the country has remained forested (according to Science Direct, between 60 and 80 percent).
Thus, the quality of life is not about producing record numbers year after year, but about maintaining the fragile balance between human activities and the greater environment. It’s a fine line that Volvo has been deftly toeing from the beginning, and it consistently shows in the thoughtful craftsmanship of every model it has rolled out over the years.
Keith also has reason to be quite optimistic about the future, despite the mounting environmental and climate challenges. He has seen that the young auto market is much more aware of the various climate and environment emergencies.
The young market, he said, is looking more into the use of materials “that are compassionate and not sourced from animals, that do not cause allergies, that are sustainable, and which make more parts of the car recyclable.”
All such concerns are right up Volvo’s alley. “A lot of work is being done by the engineers in Sweden to work on these. It all goes back to our core intent of how we get to become a better society that espouses recycling and sustainability, while using as little resources as possible,” he stressed.
Keith said that ultimately, a customer doesn’t just buy a Volvo car; he or she also buys into the entire ecosystem around which Volvo was created. This ecosystem includes everything that makes up a Volvo vehicle, and the facilities that build, handle, and assemble these parts. Keith mentioned that Volvo has been in the middle of building no-fossil-energy establishments that get their power from hydroplants.
“We have a lot of hydro energy in Sweden. And in other countries where we operate we are working to be carbon neutral. So, it’s not just about producing sustainable, environment-friendly cars but the entire value chain, a whole ecosystem, that’s sustainable and environment-friendly,” he explained.
In 2021, The Guardian wrote about Volvo partnering up with a steel company to develop technology replacing coal with hydrogen—for Volvo’s goal of building cars using steel made without fossil fuels by 2026.
Lives before profits
During the Power Plant Mall launch, Swedish Ambassador Annika Thunborg commended Volvo Philippines for taking the initiative to introduce Volvo EVs into the local market. “To build on the Swedish government’s ongoing commitment to support the Philippines in implementing sustainable and efficient transportation and road safety, I commend Volvo Cars for launching these 100-percent fully electric SUV models with zero emissions in the country. It is very timely since the need for sustainable and smart mobility is becoming increasingly critical in urban areas all over the world,” said Thunborg.
Aside from citing Sweden as among “the most sustainable countries,” she also mentioned the stellar history of Volvo in car safety. She said that in 1959, Volvo invented the three-point seat belt.
“There is no denying its impact on humanity, having so far saved millions of lives every year. It quickly became standard equipment in not only Volvo vehicles, but eventually every single car in the world because, to put human lives before corporate profits, the patent was released by Volvo to the public, making it a standard in all passenger vehicles worldwide,” she said.
World’s first carbon neutral country
Thunborg also revealed, “In 2012, Sweden became the first country in Europe to meet the EU 2020 targets for renewable energy—8 years before the deadline! By 2045, our goal is to become the first country in the world to reach carbon neutrality. This means that Sweden is to have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.”
Thunborg also mentioned that in 2016, Sweden was the first country to launch a public electric road which charges EVs while driving. “This is because electric cars, both fully electric or hybrid-electric, have been on the Swedish market for several decades and the number of these cars on Swedish roads is increasing. Sweden focuses on offering electrification to reduce carbon emissions and noise while creating smart cities where transportation is seamless and reliable.”
Thor’s Mjolnir
In many ways, the two EVs that Volvo Cars Philippines launched offer a taste of these Swedish values and technological milestones. Let’s not forget, a bit of Norse mythology, as well.
Christopher L. Yu, marketing director of Volvo Cars Philippines, described the EVs as such: “Side by side, these Recharge models look very similar. Sharing the same legendary Volvo DNA, both models are the result of decades of automotive research. Externally, you can see that they share Volvo’s signature Thor’s Hammer headlights with state-of-the-art pixel LED light technology. This enables them to automatically adapt to traffic in front, and efficiently light up the road ahead without dazzling other drivers.”
The reference to Thor evokes images of the powerful god from Asgard gathering lightning as he raises his mighty Mjolnir up to the sky.
Yu went on to explain the unique motor configuration of The Twins: “The new XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge twin Volvos both run on twin electric motors. One motor powers the front axle and another powers the rear, producing class-leading 408 horsepower and 660N-m of torque, allowing these two powerful EV models to go from 0-100 kph in just 4.9 and 4.7 seconds, respectively. These Twin Motor variants also deliver impressive range. The XC40 Recharge can drive 537 km on a single charge, while the range of the C40 Recharge AWD is 549km.
“Charging speed for both these models is brisk, with Volvo’s more energy-dense battery pack allowing for charging at an updated top rate of 205kW DC, while a 10 to 80 percent charge takes just 27 minutes.”
No animals harmed for the interior
Yu added: “On the inside, the C40 and XC40 Recharge fuses impeccable craftsmanship, practicality, and simplicity. The calm, comfortable, and ergonomically optimized cabin features sophisticated seats with a high seating position and responsive steering for a more controlled and comfortable drive. Both have 100-percent leather-free interior, partially recycled materials for upholstery and carpets, and smart cabin storage solutions. Their topography-inspired translucent back-lit decor creates a natural, soothing glow and a contemporary vibe in the cabin.”
Great vibes for all occupants of Volvo’s EVs, and a certainly lifesaving one for both humans and animals.
The all-electric Volvo C40 and XC 40 Recharge Twin are still on display until today at the North Court, Rockwell Power Plant Mall in Makati City.
