EV Brief 3/4/21 EV Brief 3/4/21

Volvo reveals 2022 C40 Recharge all-electric coupe SUV

In the quest for greater sales, manufacturers are practically inventing market segments. Enter Volvo’s C40 Recharge, which is a compact five-seat electric SUV with a coupe roofline. To be sold online only, the C40 Recharge shares much under the skin with its XC40 P8 Recharge and Polestar 2 siblings. With two electric motors good for 300 kW and 660 Nm, Volvo claims a 0-100 km/h time of just under five seconds.

C40 Recharge coupe-SUV is first Volvo designed as electric only

Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) shared with XC40 Recharge and Polestar 2
Maximum claimed WLTP range of 420 kilometres (260 miles)

150 kW charging; claimed zero to 80 per cent recharge in 40 minutes
78 kWh battery with 300 kW (407 PS) of power, 660 Nm (486 ft-lb) of torque, 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) <5 seconds
100% animal skin free interior, Android based operating system
Available for preorder in Europe now, confirmed for late-2022 arrival in Australia

C40 Recharge debuts with coupe style

In the quest for greater sales, manufacturers are practically inventing market segments. Enter Volvo’s C40 Recharge, which is a compact five-seat electric SUV with a coupe roofline.

To be sold online only, the C40 Recharge shares much under the skin with its XC40 P8 Recharge and Polestar 2 siblings. With two electric motors good for 300 kW and 660 Nm, Volvo claims a 0-100 km/h time of just under five seconds.

The 78kWh lithium-ion battery pack features active cooling and is located completely below the floor of the vehicle. Driving range on a full charge is estimated at 420 kilometres on the WLTP testing cycle.

From the front doors forward, there are not many cues to tell the C40 apart from the XC40, save for a slightly more angular headlight design and more aggressive front air ‘vents’. The rear is visually quite striking, with the large glass pane flanked by LED tail lights, and sporty upper and lower rear spoilers.

The roofline is about 70mm lower in the rear than that of the CX40 Recharge, resulting is reduced headroom.

There are seven colours available at launch: Black Stone, Crystal White metallic, Fjord Blue metallic, Fusion Red metallic, Sage Green metallic, Silver Dawn metallic and Thunder Grey metallic:

Interior design is classic Volvo

It appears to be business as usual on the inside of the C40 Recharge, but Volvo pushes its sustainable credentials by removing all animal-skin from the interior. While not classified as totally vegan as some interior components use animal fat in glues and plastics, its a step in the right direction.

Volvo’s Android powered navigation brings Google Maps to the driver’s display

There’s a large panoramic sunroof, backlit metallic trim panels, and the soft touch points and excellent ergonomics the Swedish brand is known for. The C40 Recharge’s infotainment and operating system gets an upgrade too, with the Google-based Android system from Polestar’s 2, complete with a fully digital driver’s instrument panel with Google Maps front and centre.

Customers can download apps for the car from Google’s Play Store, and Google’s excellent assistant is available at the touch of a button.

Specifications and details are scant at the moment, with Volvo devoting just a few minutes to the C40 Recharge at yesterday’s press reveal. It will be produced in the company’s Ghent, Belgium factory, and is available to pre-order online. Volvo Australia has confirmed the C40 Recharge will arrive down under in late-2022.

EV Brief 2/21/21 EV Brief 2/21/21

Volvo commits to electric vehicle rollout in Australia

Swedish car maker Volvo is unwavering in its commitment to electrification, and on the back of attaining the highest sustainability accreditation level from Ecovadis has committed to bringing its electric vehicle range to Australia, despite a political climate that is, shall we say hostile towards the decarbonisation of transport.

271700_Volvo_XC40_Recharge_P8_AWD_in_Glacier_Silver.jpg — XC 40 Recharge Pure Electric to join Volvo’s Australian range in 2021

Swedish car maker Volvo is unwavering in its commitment to electrification, and on the back of attaining the highest sustainability accreditation level from Ecovadis the company has committed to bringing its electric vehicle range to Australia despite a political climate that is, shall we say, hostile towards the decarbonisation of transport.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric. Images: Volvo Cars

Volvo Cars Australia (VCA) managing director Stephen Connor said that every model Volvo releases from 2022 will either be pure electric or will have a pure-electric variant and the brand has a pledge to be completely electric by 2030. In an interview with Go Auto, he stated that he doesn’t want Volvo to be successful based on government subsidies; rather that “we forge our way by being a leader rather than waiting for things to happen.”

Connor went on to say “if Australia wanted to be seen as a true global player and one committed to environmental care then more has to be done.” “Just consider the three-point safety belt as an example. If we waited for all authorities and governments to agree on a way forward how many more lives could have been lost in the meantime.”

Volvo will be bringing its XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, based on Geely’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) to Australia within the next few months to complement the plug-in hybrid model already on sale. The EV variant packs a 72.5kWh battery, with a 400 kilometre WLTP-rated range. With 300kW (407 PS) and 660Nm (486 lb-ft) torque, its likely to be one of the quickest Volvos available in Australia.

Pricing has not been confirmed, but we would expect Tesla’s $70-80,000 Model 3 to be Volvo’s main price point target.