Aston Martin to Offer Hybrid Tech Across Model Range
Automaker makes big push toward electrification
Aston Martin plans to offer hybrid technology on all of its models within the next decade, CEO Andy Palmer has revealed.
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"We will be 100 percent hybrid by the middle of the 2020s," Palmer told theFinancial Times. The automaker will offer battery vehicles as well as mild-hybrid cars that pair an electric battery to a traditional combustion engine.
Aston Martin's commitment may sound similar to the one Volvo made earlier this summer, but there is a key difference. Volvo says every single one of its vehicles will include electrification, but Aston Martin will simply offer an electrified option on every model throughout its range. So while Volvo will stop selling all vehicles that run purely on gas or diesel, Aston Martin will continue churning out non-hybrid vehicles, reportsFT.
Palmer estimates that around a quarter of Aston Martin cars will be all-electric by the end of the next decade. In the meantime, Aston Martin is gearing up to produce its first all-electric car, the Rapid-e, in 2019. It's possible the upcoming DBX crossover will offer a hybrid version after it enters production in 2019, according to Palmer.
The CEO also said Aston Martin wants to develop the electric driving systems in-house.
"You need to keep core technology inside the company," said Palmer. "That's why we make our own V-12 engine. We believe that EVs are a core technology, and therefore we want to do them ourselves."
Aston Martin has its hands full. A year ago, we learned Aston Martin was busy at work launching seven new models within 7 years, starting with the new DB11. Another model is a mid-engine sports car that will rival the Ferrari 488 and McLaren 720S.
Source: Financial Times (Subscription required)
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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