Fully Electric Volvo XC40 Recharge Revealed
What were the odds of Volvo revealing their first ever electric vehicle just in time for the latest round of load shedding in South Africa?
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is official and will spearhead Volvo’s new ‘Recharge’ line, which includes all of their plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles. Volvo is serious about going electric. In fact, they will be launching a fully electric model each year in an attempt to reach their goal of having 50% of their global sales allocated to all-electric vehicles by 2025. If a new model each year isn’t enough, every person that enters one of Volvo’s websites from next year will be asked if they’re interested in purchasing a Volvo Recharge vehicle. To further encourage electric driving, every Volvo Recharge plug-in hybrid model will come with free electricity for a year, provided through a refund for the average electricity cost during that period.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a big deal for the manufacturer, considering that it is their first-ever electric vehicle. It’s based on the successful XC40 SUV and will also be the first model to make the transition to Volvo’s new Android powered infotainment system. “We have said this several times before: for Volvo Cars, the future is electric,” said Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive. “Today we take a major new step in that direction with the launch of our fully electric XC40 and the Recharge car line.”
The specs of the XC40 Recharge are impressive enough to make a statement for Volvo. It’s got a fully electric all-wheel drive powertrain that is capable of producing a maximum output of 304kW of power. Being an electric car it’s also got to be efficient, and the XC40 Recharge delivers up to 400-kilometers of range on a single charge. The fast-charging battery can recharge all the way up to 80% charge in just 40 minutes through a fast charging system. From the sound of it, the XC40 recharge could be a very good electric vehicle. Inside the vehicle, the new Android-powered infotainment system is fully integrated with Volvo on Call, a digital connected services platform. This platform enables drivers to track and manage how they use their electric power while driving.
