My Week With Volvo’s 2021 Pure Electric XC40 Recharge

The XC40 Recharge is Volvo’s first pure-electric production car. It leads the way for what will be a comprehensive family to include, shortly, the C40 Recharge. Earlier this month Volvo promised a purely electrified portfolio from 2030 and to be a fully carbon-neutral company a decade after. In response to evolving consumer behavior, the Swedish marque went further to offer a seamless consumer experience with its electric cars sold online only in a direct-to-consumer format and at a fixed price. The Volvo promise is of transparency – from supply chain, to production methods, the vehicle carbon footprint and onto sales and beyond. In the case of this XC40 Recharge, the company is exploring a straightforward rental system. So, at a fixed monthly subscription of around £600 in the UK (roughly $860), customers sign up for the “Care by Volvo” package which covers road tax, servicing, tire replacements and more. Unlike traditional forms of finance, there is no deposit or joining fee. And while the monthly amount may seem a touch high for a small SUV, it is offset by the low running costs of electric vehicles. The electric XC40 loaned to me for a week comes with four-wheel-drive and is powered by two electric motors for 408-horsepower and with 660Nm of instant torque so the SUV accelerates from naught to 62 miles in a just 4.9 seconds. The battery offers a healthy 257-mile range with 80% available at the fast-charger in 40 minutes or overnight at a regular AC charger. Having had quite a few electric cars on test in the last few months, I found the XC40 the least battery thirsty and one of the simpler ones to charge. Volvo is a brand anchored on the promise of safety and this car benefits from a whole host of advanced technology as well the new pilot assist to provide breaking support. The design is based closely on the XC40 small five-seat SUV with the closed front grille and the “Recharge” badge on the side the main indicators of the electric drive. Yet, despite only subtle styling revisions, there were plenty of queries and comments as I drove the car around London. I was positively surprised by the reactions of younger male drivers who are less likely to be classified as Volvo customers. The marque has worked hard to shift the “old man’s car” identity and it appears to be working. There are little luxuries on-board the XC40 too, to include heated seats and steering wheel. The upholstery is leather-faced, meaning the animal skin features sparingly where the body contacts the seats, while the door linings and carpets are made from 97% recycled material. There are plenty of clever interior touches, such as a removable waste bin between the front seats, a hook in the glove compartment for bags and by moving the large speakers from the front doors, the door pockets now provide useful storage spaces. All data is taken from the source: http://forbes.com Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nargessb... #electric #newsroom #newsworldbbc #newstodaydonaldtrump #newstodayabc #newstoday #