Performance
One of the first major electric vehicle (EV) releases of 2021 is here: the fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge P8! As Volvo’s first fully electric car, the XC40 Recharge enters the rapidly growing compact SUV market. The car features all-wheel drive powered by two electric motors, one for the front wheels and the other for the rear. Each motor has an output of 201 horsepower for a total of 402 hp. The XC40 Recharge also features plenty of towing capacity with 486 lb-ft of torque.
To power these motors, Volvo has opted for a 78 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. Using Vovlo’s Compact Modular Architecture, the battery doesn’t take up any additional cabin space when compared with the gas powered XC40. Fully charged, the battery offers up to 208 miles of range, though, like most EV manufacturers, Volvo recommends only charging to 90% on a regular basis to preserve long-term battery health. That said, owners should not be concerned about charging to 100% when extra range is needed, such as for a road trip. With a Level 2 home charger installed you can ensure you wake up with a 90% charge everyday (or fully charged if you prefer).
Safety and Space
Unsurprisingly, the Volvo XC40 Recharge maintains Volvo’s reputation for safety. With a history of great scores in both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, Volvo has their innovative safety technologies across to the Recharge. You can confidently use the XC40 Recharge as a family vehicle knowing Volvo has made safety a top priority.
Not only does this car fit the bill for a safe family car, it has the seat capacity for it too, as it comfortably seats 5 people. It also has a spacious cargo compartment in the trunk offering 21 cubic feet of storage space. If you fold down the rear seats that expands to 47.2 cubic feet. Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of your frunk for smaller items!
Charging
As with all EVs efficient charging is vital to practical daily use. Volvo has of course taken this into account and offers good acceptance rates for both Level 2 and 3 charging. Their Level 2 acceptance rate is up to 11kW. This is plenty fast to charge fully overnight allowing owners to start everyday with a full battery.
In some situations like long road trips, stopping to charge for several hours is not a viable option. Fortunately, Level 3 charging exists to solve this problem. Usually found at highway rest areas or at popular destinations, Level 3 chargers can charge the XC40 Recharge from 0% – 80% in 40 minutes. The Volvo can accept up to 150kW from Level 3 chargers.
Getting Ready
If you’re interested in learning more about the Volvo XC40 or want to test drive one, reach out to our friends at Don Beyer Volvo. As for charging needs, our mission is to ease the transition to electric vehicle ownership by providing an effortless charger purchase and installation process. Contact us today to get started!
