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    The Volvo XC40 Recharge walkaround reveals a very compelling EV entrant

    The Volvo XC40 is the company’s first serious entry into the EV market after first showing off the C30 Electric way back in 2010. While I typically hate the idea of taking a car designed for a combustion engine and converting it to an EV, it actually looks really well done here.

    The XC40 Recharge is the EV version of the standard 2.0L Petrol XC40. The reason re-using existing chassis is typically a bad idea is that the EV powertrain is crammed into places in the body that exist already, rather than redesigning the platform to support the battery and electric motors.

    Placing the substantial weight of an EV’s battery pack correctly, has a dramatic impact on the handling and safety of a vehicle and in this instance, it looks like Volvo have made the necessary changes.

    It’s understandable why companies want to re-use existing R&D investments as much as possible, there’s a serious cost saving to be had if done correctly. Also, the design of the car actually looks pretty modern, so there isn’t an express need to rethink it from the ground up.

    EVs have many unique requirements over ICE vehicles, namely more aero efficient wheels, so Volvo have created a new wheel specifically for this vehicle. There’s also the charging port and of course the frunk, which Volvo chose to put a cover on.

    Volvo also redesigned the front end, replacing the front-grill with a front end that certainly looks familiar, not too different from the design we saw on Ford’s Mach-E.

    When it comes to the technology available, Volvo partnered with Google to provide a connected infotainment system. Powered by Android, the car offers Google Assistant for voice support and Google Maps for navigation (and to find charging locations), along with a collection of car-friendly Store apps.

    Volvo is committing to over-the-air software updates and are thankfully leaving the dealer out of it. Updates can be done from the car’s touch screen. The mobile app can’t unlock the car, there’s still a standard key fob for that, but it can turn on your heated seats and steering wheel.

    It’s great to see Volvo following trend with market leader Tesla, by using a seat sensor to start your car, simply sit down, select drive and go.

    When it comes to the performance, this compact-sized SUV offers pretty impressive figures of 4.9seconds to go from 0-100km/hr. The battery pack is 78kWh which gives you a projected range of more than 400km (WLTP), making it a very compelling prospect for Australia’s large distances.

    Fast-charging, up to 150kW is supported via a CCS2 charging port, which could take you from 0-80% in just 40 minutes. Alternatively there’s a 3-phase wall box that would let you charge at home overnight. Charging levels can be set and monitored through the mobile app.

    The walkthrough below provides a great look at the CX40 Recharge and does a great job of demonstrating the car’s capabilities and I can’t wait to see it on our roads.

    No word on price yet, but we should see these late this year or early 2021.

    While 2020 has been a pretty big dumpster fire, it’s great to see the electric vehicle market getting serious entrants from the big named automakers.

    Competition will ultimately benefit consumers.

    Jason Cartwright
    Jason Cartwrighthttps://techau.com.au/author/jason/
    Creator of techAU, Jason has spent the dozen+ years covering technology in Australia and around the world. Bringing a background in multimedia and passion for technology to the job, Cartwright delivers detailed product reviews, event coverage and industry news on a daily basis. Disclaimer: Tesla Shareholder from 20/01/2021

    2 COMMENTS

    1. Why does the author – like so many fuzzy thought-repeaters – “hate” EVs that are based on a combustion platform ?
      Here – for the “nth” time – are a few thoughts for him and so many other thought-repeaters to chew on:
      1) do you all hate the e-Niro and e-Kona ?
      2) but here’s the slam-dunk: the 2008 Tesla Roadster was based on…the Lotus Elise ! The bigger truth here therefore is that without the combustion-platformed Lotus Elise and ACPropulsion’s TZero there would be no Tesla Motors and the EV Revolution would be still stuck in low gear. But you knew all of that, right ?
      A final slam-dunk on top of the last one: the ACPropulsion TZero itself was *also* in fact an EV conversion of a (Sportech) kit-car that was designed for *combustion power* !! I suggest that the author and 99% of journalists dedicate a whole lot more time researching EVs and recent EV history(1990-present) before attempting to report on the subject. With 24/7/365 web access, a journalist’s job has never been easier – but we rarely see any evidence of that fact.
      Paul G

      • Hey Paul, whatever the brand, the key criteria for a successful EV is to maximise range (requires a flat floor) and having the batteries arranged in a way that keeps the center of gravity low. Re-using most of the top shell of the car is smart, as indicated in the article. There’s been a lot of madness in the EV/hybrid development over the years, including losing the middle seat in the back due to the drivetrain tunnel still being present, as well as batteries as high as the boot space.

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