Volvo launches XC40 Recharge, a fully electric car in a new lineup

KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo has introduced its very first commercial electric car, XC40 Recharge. The car is referred to as an all-electric adaptation of Volvo’s XC40 SUV, which hit the Malaysian market the previous year. Moreover, the mass-market electric car is going to be the first product of Volvo’s all-new lineup, Recharge. The launch furthermore depicts the affirmation of the Swedish carmaker’s serious intention to be climate neutral by the year 2040.

The carmaker has incorporated some changes while making the electric adaptation of the regular XC40. The electric powertrain is placed on the floor of the car, which results in adding around 450 kg weight over the XC40 SUV. Also, to maintain the safety standards, the battery is protected by an extruded aluminium frame, which is embedded into the body structure. Moreover, the frontal structure is also changed, as there is no combustion engine.

As for the technical configuration, Volvo XC40 Recharge features a P8 AWD powertrain, which comes with a dual-motor system. It churns out a maximum power of 402 hp and a peak torque of 660 Nm. The EV can achieve the top speed of 180 kmph, and it can complete a sprint from 0 to 100 km/hr in 4.9 seconds.

The XC40 EV is equipped with a 78 kWh Li-ion battery, which helps it to cover around 400 km range on a single charge. The battery can be charged through a Type 2 AC connection, which takes approximately 7.5 hours while using a 11 kW three-phase charger.

Design-wise, the vehicle can be easily identified by looking at its front-end. It features a covered front grille, which will help it in the cooling process. Apart from that, it looks similar to the XC40 SUV except for the ‘Recharge’ script on the C-pillars and model-specified logo on the tailgate.

XC40 Recharge cabin looks similar to the standard XC40 except for an updated 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It comes with a model-specific display, which will show the status of the powertrain. There is also a new infotainment system, which comes with Android Automotive OS.

Volvo XC40 Recharge is claimed as an important product for the carmaker as it is the very first step towards making 50% of the brand's global sales from all-electric cars within the next six years, 2025. The brand has also declared that it made a decision to launch an all-electric car every year onwards.

Also Read: New Volvo XC40 - First impression