Volvo unveils XC40 Recharge as its first BEV
Compact SUV takes aim at dedicated battery-electric SUVs from Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. By Richard Leu
But this isn’t a dedicated BEV …
This is the XC40 Recharge, Volvo’s first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) for series production. Although the XC40 accommodates combustion engines and plug-in hybrids, it has been designed to handle full electrification. Note the new Recharge badge: it denotes all-electric power.
The XC40 Recharge shares most of the powertrain knowhow with the Polestar 2, which is also based on the same CMA platform engineered by Geely to additionally handle BEV tech.
Unlike the Audi E-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes-Benz EQC, the XC40 Recharge isn’t considered a dedicated BEV and is based on an existing model.
The most notable differences in the XC40 Recharge from its combustion-engine siblings are a closed-grille up front, no tailpipe badge behind and the badge itself.
The XC Recharge is the first Volvo to get an infotainment operating system by Google
Android.
Can it better those rivals in performance terms? The formula in making BEVs these days is very similar among carmakers. In this case, we’re talking about lithium-ion batteries placed underneath the cabin floor and two electric motors, each driving an axle for all-wheel drive capability.
The figures in the XC40 Recharge are equally familiar. The outputs are rated at 408hp (204hp per motor) and 660Nm, while the 78kWh battery can run for 400km under the WLTP method and be recharged to 80% in 40 minutes using a quick-charging system.
Although the XC40 Recharge weighs a portly 2,250kg, it can cover a 0-100kph sprint time in 4.9 seconds. That’s quicker than both the E-tron and EQC, but a tenth-of-a-second slower than the I-Pace.
That’s fast enough for the real world. Will Volvo sell it in Thailand?
It’s likely the Thai Volvo office will sell the XC40 Recharge next year, even though BEVs from luxury brands are still a rare sight because of their outlandish prices caused by excessive import tax.
Later this year, the EQC is set to join the I-Pace and E-tron on Thai shores in the 5-million-baht front of luxury all-electric SUVs. There’s a good chance the XC40 Recharge could be cheaper given Volvo’s aggressive pricing strategy in this country.
Also planned for a debut next year is the BMW iX3, a BEV spun off from the X3 compact SUV. Lower down the price ranks will be the Mini Cooper S E hatchback, whose battery-electric tech is shared with BMW i3s.