Today marks Earth Day 2025, a global movement dedicated to educating and empowering businesses and individuals to make more sustainable choices, particularly in renewable energy.
Celebrated annually since 1970, Earth Day 2025’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet". One of the aims is to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. Volvo, a leader in the South African electric vehicle market, has also set a goal for 2030 that aligns with Earth Day: to sell 90-100% electrified vehicles globally by the start of the new decade.
“Following the successful introduction of the C40 and XC40 Recharge, as well as the award-winning EX30, Volvo has expanded its fully electric line-up with the introduction of the EX90,” says Felipe Yagi, Head of Marketing & Communications at Volvo Car South Africa. “Later this year, we’re planning to introduce the ES90 luxury sedan and EX30 Cross Country, bringing electrification to an even wider range of customers.”
Electric vehicles are a natural fit with renewable energy, allowing stakeholders and businesses to contribute to creating a cleaner and greener environment for all. Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE), for example, has embarked on an ambitious plan to roll out 120 off-the-grid charging stations across South Africa (at 150km intervals), allowing owners to charge their electric cars emissions-free1.
Of course, true sustainability extends beyond fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Volvo understands that the world’s natural resources are finite, which is why it has set a goal of becoming a circular business by 2040.
Volvo is committed to eliminating waste and pollution, which includes increasing the use of recycled materials and remanufacturing and reusing parts. The recently launched EX90, for instance, contains around 15% recycled steel, 25% recycled aluminium, and 48kg of recycled plastics and bio-based materials.
Producing new parts requires plenty of energy and raw materials. By remanufacturing parts, Volvo could cut raw material usage by 85% and energy use by 86%. The company currently remanufactures as many as 36 different component groups, from engines to gearboxes, and in 2022, it saved more than 4 800 tonnes of CO2 by remanufacturing over 33 000 parts2.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
As the global automotive industry shifts into a greener, electrified future, South African fitment centres stand at a critical crossroad: adapt or risk falling behind.
Another plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is on its way to South Africa; this time in the form of JAC Motors’ T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV double-cab bakkie.
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has begun full-scale production of the first-ever Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) at its Silverton Manufacturing Plant.
