Volvo has lifted the veil on its first ever mass market electric vehicle which will be sold under the Recharge line up – the XC 40 Recharge.
The new XC40 Recharge utilises two electric motors – one for the front axle and another for the rear – effectively making it an all-wheel drive vehicle. Total system output is rated at 402 hp and 660 Nm.
Although it weighs upwards of 2,100 kg, it can still sprint to 100 km/h from standstill in a brisk 4.9 seconds. That said, top speed is limited to only 180 km/h.
Power comes from the 78 kWh lithium-ion battery mounted on the floor of the vehicle, as a result of the Compact Modular Platform’s (CMA) versatility. The platform, which the petrol-powered XC40s are built on, was initially developed with electrification in mind.
Capable of being charged up to 80% in just 40 minutes, the XC40 Recharge is expected to offer up to 400 km of electric driving range.
The regular XC40 Recharge can be distinguished from the regular petrol-powered XC40 by the front grille and the charging port which is positioned where the fuel flap is. As Volvo opted not to place the charging port at the front, this frees up 31-litres of “frunk” space to add to the 413-litres of boot space.
Inside, the XC40 Recharge stands out with a 12.3-inch digital display to project different parameters specific to the EV. The XC40 Recharge is the first Volvo to have an infotainment system which runs on Android Automotive OS.
By 2025, Volvo is expecting that 50% of its global sales to be made up of electric vehicles. In the next five years, the company plans to launch an electric car every year.
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