Following the launch of the XC40 Recharge in the P6 and P8 guises last year, Volvo SA has introduced the second model in its electric vehicle (EV) portfolio, the Volvo C40 Recharge 2023. This is a component of the Swedish automaker’s ambition to sell 50% of completely electric and hybrid vehicles globally by 2025 and transition to an all-electric car firm by 2030.
Volvo appears to be on the right track, having switched from diesel to a mild petrol hybrid in its main models while also offering fully electric vehicles, with more on the way in the form of the EX30 and EX90. This project may have appeared ambitious when it was first announced in 2021, but it now appears to be on the right track.
The Volvo C40 Recharge, which was unveiled last year, is the automaker’s first stand-alone EV brand. Unlike previous EV models like the XC40, which also comes in petrol-powered versions, the C40 Recharge is all electric from the ground up.
The sleek C40 shares many design cues with the XC40 from the front bumper to the B-pillar, but beyond that, it develops a more distinct look that should draw in a somewhat different type of customer.
A 78kWh battery and two electric motors, one on each axle, power the C40. As a result, the compact SUV from Sweden has a sprint time of 4.7 seconds from rest to 100 km/h and a net power output of 300kW and 660Nm. That’s really quick, but this automobile offers more than just performance, which can be found inside the interior. To begin with, the interior contains zero leather per the company’s sustainability commitment. On the door padding, recycled materials are utilised instead.
A lighting dashboard inlay that takes design cues from geography also illuminates the nighttime sky with a gentle, white glow. The majority of the car’s features are located on the Google-based infotainment screen, which is easy to use once you get used to it because it operates similarly to a smartphone. The basic, powerful 600W Harman Kardon sound system is well-suited for audiophiles.
The C40’s claimed 444-kilometer driving range on a full charge will soon be put to the test. Urban driving made up the majority of the launch drive. During coasting, it effectively transforms the kinetic energy of the synchronous motors into electrical energy. When used frequently, this can gradually increase each trip’s electric driving range. It’s a brilliant device that, when employed properly, can lessen the need to apply the brakes in order to slow down.
As previously said, the C40 excels in performance thanks to its quick, neck-flexing acceleration, which may become addictive and easily dispatch with any bothersome hot hatch wannabe at traffic lights. According to Volvo, the C40 can charge its battery pack from 10% to 80% using a public DC charger at a rate of up to 150kW, which takes just 37 minutes. This gives you time to have a cup of coffee and check your email.
