Swedish premium car brand Volvo is planning to launch its first plug-in electric car by 2019.

The company isn't giving too much away about the vehicle other than it will be a smaller C or even B-segment model and that it has been built from the ground up to be a true electric car.

However, before it comes to market, Volvo is going to get busy with hybrids and ensure that there is a petrol/electric variant of each of its models available for environmentally conscious consumers.

Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, said: "We believe that the time has come for electrified cars to cease being a niche technology and enter the mainstream. We are confident that in two years' time, 10 percent of Volvo's global sales will be electrified cars."

A plug-in electric car with an extended range will be the medium- to long-term solution to offering drivers something that blends power, efficiency and environmental protection, but in the short term, Volvo believes that building on its existing twin engine hybrid offering will offer customers the best combination of efficiency and range without forsaking convenience. 

"We have learned a lot about how people use cars with electrification thanks to our current product offer," said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President for Research and Development. "Our research has shown that people are driving our Twin Engine cars in electric mode around 50 percent of the time, meaning our plug-in hybrids already offer a real alternative to conventional powertrain systems."

More green cars: We test drive Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid.