The automotive world is rapidly shifting gears, and Volvo is at the forefront of this electrifying revolution. For prospective Volvo owners, a pivotal question now arises: do you envision your next Volvo with a cord or without? Volvo Cars has officially unveiled the Xc40 Recharge, the brand’s inaugural fully electric vehicle and the pioneering model within their newly established Recharge line of cars.
Building upon the award-winning and highly successful XC40 compact SUV, the XC40 Recharge marks the dawn of a new era for Volvo, representing not only their first foray into the all-electric market but also the debut of Volvo’s cutting-edge infotainment system powered by Google’s Android operating system.
Volvo Cars is committed to a fully electric future, announcing plans to launch a new all-electric model annually for the next five years. Their ambitious goal is for fully electric cars to constitute 50 percent of their global sales by 2025, with hybrids making up the remaining half. “Recharge” will serve as the overarching banner for all of Volvo’s chargeable vehicles, encompassing both fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Demonstrating their commitment to electric mobility, starting in early 2020, visitors to the Volvo Cars website were greeted with a clear choice: explore Volvo Recharge cars or their traditional models. Further incentivizing the adoption of electric driving, every Volvo Recharge plug-in hybrid model includes a compelling perk: complimentary electricity for a year, delivered as a refund equivalent to the average electricity cost during that period.
“We have consistently stated that the future of Volvo Cars is electric,” affirmed Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive. “Today signifies a significant stride in that direction with the launch of our fully electric XC40 and the Recharge car line.”
The XC40 Recharge delivers everything discerning customers have come to expect from a Volvo, enhanced by a state-of-the-art, fully electric all-wheel-drive powertrain. This powerful system provides an impressive range exceeding 400 km (WLTP) on a single charge and boasts a substantial output of 408 horsepower. Utilizing a fast-charger system, the battery can be charged to 80% of its capacity in a swift 40 minutes.
The seamless integration of the Android-powered infotainment system extends to Volvo On Call, Volvo’s comprehensive digital connected services platform. Through Volvo On Call, plug-in hybrid drivers gain valuable insights, including the ability to track their electric driving time.
To prepare for the anticipated surge in demand for Recharge vehicles, Volvo Cars is proactively tripling its production capacity for electrified cars. Starting next year, they will introduce a Designer’s Choice selection of popular Recharge models, promising significantly reduced delivery times. Volvo Cars aims for plug-in hybrid vehicles to comprise 20 percent of their total sales in 2020.
Every model within the Volvo range now offers a Recharge option, spanning from the compact XC40 SUV to the 60 Series cars and culminating in their flagship large XC90 SUV. Volvo Cars proudly stands as the sole automaker offering a plug-in variant across its entire model lineup.
The XC40 Recharge and the Recharge car line serve as tangible proof points of Volvo’s ambitious new action plan, also unveiled today. This plan outlines concrete steps aligned with the Paris climate agreement and reinforces Volvo Cars’ commitment to becoming a climate-neutral company by 2040. For a deeper dive into Volvo Cars’ climate plan, you can read more HERE.
