July 2017 was a pivotal month for the automotive industry. This was the month when Volvo became the first big-name manufacturer to announce plans to stop making vehicles driven by an internal combustion engine. The Swedish firm confirmed that all Volvos produced from 2019 onwards will be partially or completely battery powered, with chief executive Håkan Samuelsson claiming that the announcement "marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car.”
Bold claims, yet car manufacturers aren't alone in this line of thinking. Just a day later, France revealed ambitious plans to end the sale of all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, and Britain, citing public health as a key factor, soon followed suit by announcing a ban on the sale of petrol or diesel cars and vans starting in the same year.
Fascinating developments, yet while the manufacturers and governments have played their cards, we're always intrigued to hear the opinion of consumers. So for this week's question, let's put the focus on our automotive futures by asking: will your next car be electric? Let us know your reasons for and against using the comments facility below.
