Volvo C40 Recharge EV reveal
Volvo has revealed its second all-electric vehicle, the C40 Recharge, just after it announced plans to become fully electric. This new model follows on from the XC40 Recharge that launched last year and will make its way to South Africa.
This is the next step for Volvo to become completely electric by 2030. In addition, Volvo will shift to focusing purely on online sales. Right now, all electric Volvos will be sold online and will continue to do so as the company phases out combustion engines.
“We are fully focused on becoming a leader in the fast-growing premium electric segment. We are firmly committed to becoming an electric-only car maker and the transition should happen by 2030. It will allow us to meet the expectations of our customers and be a part of the solution when it comes to fighting climate change.” – Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive.
The upcoming Volvo C40 Recharge.
The new Volvo C40 Recharge resembles the XC40 Recharge but features a lower roof-line that slopes down and tapers at the end. This does mean that there will be less room for luggage and potentially much less headroom in the rear seats. We will have to wait to find out how the headroom is effected, but we imagine it might have a similar outcome to the Nissan Juke.
Apart from that, there are many features to like about this model. We especially like the unique taillights that follow the curves of the rear of the car.
Inside the C40 Recharge is completely leather-free which is a first for Volvo. We hope that this will allow for sustainable and recycled interior materials to be used in the future. The car will also feature a digital gauge cluster and an infotainment system that was made with Google. While this does mean access to the Andriod operating system and all the great apps that come with it, it could also mean an exclusion of Apple owners. Something that should never be what car manufacturers do, but yet it happens anyway.
With the complete electric system, Volvo says that they will be sending over-the-air improvements and updates to the C40 Recharge. Interestingly, the company plans to include unlimited data which will be very helpful for those updates.
“The C40 Recharge represents the future of Volvo and shows where we are going. It is fully electric, offered online only with a convenient care package and will be available for quick delivery. Getting a new Volvo was never this attractive.” – Henrik Green, chief technology officer.
Similar performance to the CX40 Recharge.
Underpinned bu the same CMA platform that the XC40 Recharge and Polestar 2, the C40 Recharge is powered by two electric motors. Both on separate axles, they are attached to a 78 kWh battery. This will allow for a total of 300 kW and 660 Nm.
Volvo claims that this model will get from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 180 km/h. As for range, Volvo anticipates around 420 km which should improve with the over-the-air software updates we mentioned earlier. From an 11 kW plug, the Volvo can fully charge in just 8 hours which is perfect for overnight charging. When hooked up to a 150 kW charger, this EV can reach 80 percent in 40 minutes.
As for local availability, Volvo is yet to announce plans. Since the XC40 Recharge is already on its way, we think it promising.
Source: Volvo Cars
