Volvo's First All-electric SUV Unveiled, Volvo XC40 Recharge

• Volvo unveiled its first all-electric SUV, known as Volvo XC40 Recharge.

• XC40 Recharge to generate 402bhp.

• Range to be 400km on the WLTP cycle.

• The battery can be charged to 80 percent using a fast charger.

Volvo has revealed its first all-electric SUV, and it is called the XC40 Recharge. The ‘Recharge’ name will be attached to all Volvos that are all-electric or plug-in hybrids. 

The Volvo XC40 Recharge sports styling that is futuristic, as befits the image it wants to project. The grille is not an open one, and nothing else about the looks truly sets it apart from a Volvo from the future. Where things change are under the hood – quite literally.

There is a boot in the front as well, since all that space isn’t required to house a big ol’ internal combustion engine. The only resemblance to a car of today is the cap to the windshield washer fluid reservoir. The battery packs are mounted under the floor to lower the center of gravity. This has also lowered the ground clearance of the car. 

The batteries have a usable capacity of 75kWh, and powers two electric motors – one for each axle. 660Nm is generated along with that 402bhp power figure, and a 400km range is possible on the WLTP cycle. This reduces to 322km in the EPA cycle. The battery can be charged to 80 percent in 40 minutes using a 150kW fast charger. 

Inside, the XC40 Recharge is integrated with Volvo’s On Call digital connected services, meaning among the things available to the owner will be Google Assistant, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store. It will be priced at around Rs 47 lakh in Germany, so expect a figure higher than that when it makes its way to India.

Volvo XC40 EV Infotainment and Design Details Revealed

It will go on sale late next year in Europe, and the US market is next. India should be on the cards sometime in 2021, although it might also be dependent on the electric charging infrastructure available here at that time. The only premium all-electric SUV to go on sale in recent times in India was the Hyundai Kona.