More “carbon neutral” vehicles may be coming to a Volkswagen dealership near you in the future. One of the world’s largest automakers, and creator of the Beetle, VW is planning for the future with its “Drive Bigger” brand direction. This plan goes beyond simply introducing more electric vehicles into the market.
The three-part plan includes:
- Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) output from vehicles and factories.
- Adapting and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.
- Using carbon offsets where reducing carbon emissions is unattainable.
This isn’t just for the years and decades ahead. Volkswagen is already preparing its MQB platform for upcoming all-electric vehicles. These new VW models are expected to be produced starting in late 2019 and into 2020.
Carbon Neutral by 2050
The Volkswagen Group is predicting to sell about 22 million electric vehicles by 2028.1 Carbon neutrality means achieving a net-zero carbon footprint. If eliminating carbon emissions altogether isn’t possible, it can be achieved through carbon offsetting, which means reducing emissions in some areas to compensate for those made elsewhere. The concept can be applied to other greenhouse gases by comparing their global warming potential to carbon dioxide.
Commitment to Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement, ratified on November 4, 2016, aims to help countries deal with climate change and keep the global temperature rise in the 20th century to below 2°C. 2 Volkswagen is committed to this goal and intends to be CO2 neutral by 2050, but it plans to accomplish several other objectives before then. By 2025, VW aims to:
- Reduce total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of passenger cars and light-duty vehicles by 30% (compared to vehicles in 2015).
- Have reduced CO2, energy, waste, water, and volatile organic compounds by 45% per vehicle (compared to levels in 2010).
- Increase its share of battery electric vehicles to 20-25% (and share of EVs in the Group fleet to at least 40% by 2030).3
Volkswagen is committed to compliance with new environmental standards. It also aims to be a role model for implementing management systems addressing various environmental impacts of its solutions at all life cycle stages.
Plans for New Electric Models
A potential future new Volkswagen lineup changed when the company boosted its projection of EV production for 2029 by 50%. Previously, it had planned for 15 million vehicles.3 Now, it is planning for 50 new battery-electric models by 2025. In recent years, it has paid over $30 billion in fines and settlements related to rigged emissions tests on diesel engines.4 With these vehicles off the market in the U.S., VW plans to pick up the slack with new electric vehicles beyond the current VW e-Golf and the upcoming Neo and I.D. Buzz Microbus.
Visit Our Volkswagen Dealership Today
Jeff D’Ambrosio Volkswagen in Downingtown, PA offers a large inventory from which you can select a brand new Volkswagen or low-mileage, multi-point inspected used models. We have an on-site parts and service department and offer competitive financing. If you’re interested in the latest new VW models, see our New Specials or call our sales team at 888-585-7794.
Sources:
- http://newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/what-becoming-carbon-neutral-means-to-volkswagen-and-why-its-the-only-way-forward/
- https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
- https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/nachhaltigkeit/documents/Mission_Statement_Environment_2019-06-20_en_final_hoch.pdf
- https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/12/vw-boosts-electric-production-by-50percent-with-22-million-bevs-by-2029.html
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