Volvo XC40 Recharge: electric SUV has sports car speed, 250-mile range

The XC40 Recharge is an all-electric Volvo SUV, the first EV in a range of models to be launched between now and 2025.

Volvo XC40 Recharge

Volvo has revealed its first ever all-electric car, the XC40 Recharge. An EV version of the increasingly popular XC40 compact SUV, it combines a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds with an EV driving range of nearly 250 miles. 

The XC40 Recharge P8 AWD has two electric motors, giving a total of 408hp. It’s a planet-saving performance car in sheep’s clothing. 

Volvo XC40 Recharge

As for the name ‘Recharge’, that’s Volvo’s branding for all its future electric cars – and it’s going to release one every year between now and 2025. 

Volvo XC40 Recharge

By then, EVs will comprise 50 percent of its overall sales. The rest? Electrified plug-in hybrids (with not a normal engine in sight). 

Volvo says the XC40 Recharge’s batteries will, ahem, recharge from zero to 80 percent in 40 minutes. Total battery capacity is 75 kWh. 

Volvo XC40 Recharge

The electric XC40 will go on sale in 2020, and Volvo says it will build its website around promoting EVs. When customers visit, they will first be asked if they want a Volvo Recharge or not – making them consider electric right from the start. 

“We have said this several times before: for Volvo Cars, the future is electric,” said CEO Hakan Samuelsson. “Today we take a major new step in that direction with the launch of our fully electric XC40 and the Recharge line.” 

Recharge will also comprise plug-in hybrids: Volvo is the only firm to sell a plug-in hybrid variant of every model it sells. 

Volvo XC40 Recharge

The XC40 Recharge is also the first Volvo to feature a Google Android-based infotainment system. This, says the firm, takes connectivity to a new level. 

It is fully integrated with the Volvo On Call connectivity system and, for plug-in hybrid drivers, will let them show off to their friends how much time they spend driving in electric mode. 

To meet demand for Recharge models, Volvo plans to triple production capacity for its electrified cars. 

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Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

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