Volkswagen may be shifting away from focusing on diesel-powered vehicles toward plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles in the wake of its diesel emissions scandal, the company has announced.
by Staff
October 13, 2015
Photo courtesy of VW.
1 min to read
Photo courtesy of VW.
Volkswagen may be shifting away from focusing on diesel-powered vehicles toward plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles in the wake of its diesel emissions scandal, the company has announced.
Any future diesel vehicles from Volkswagen will use selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), according to an Oct. 13 announcement. The company considering using SCR to decrease diesel emissions in 2007, but rejected the technology as being too costly.
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The company is cutting back on its investments by 1 billion euros, or about $1.1 billion to focus on more affordable technology.
"The Volkswagen brand is repositioning itself for the future," said Herbert Diess, chairman of the company's brand. "We are becoming more efficient, we are giving our product range and our core technologies a new focus, and we are creating room for forward-looking technologies by speeding up the efficiency program."
Volkswagen is moving toward electrified powertrains by bringing back its Phaeton limousine as an EV; developing a high-volume 186-mile-range mild hybrid with a 48-volt power system; and plug-in hybrids. The company also plans to develop additional compressed natural gas concepts.
Volkswagen will adapt its MQB platform with electric powertrains for "both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles," according to the announcement. Volkswagen will strive to develop an EV with a 310-mile range.
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