Volvo Car’s first pure electric SUV – the XC40 Recharge – is confirmed for market launch in India in 2021. Although based on the popular XC40 compact SUV, the electric variant is fresh and sophisticated in many ways with high-performance credentials and equipment list including chic infotainment system and over-the-air updates.
The year 2021 is likely to be quite exciting for EVs in India, thanks to Swedish premium car brand Volvo Cars planning to kick-start electric shift in the premium segment. Confirming the company’s plan to introduce XC40 Recharge in the local market, Charles Frump, managing director, Volvo Car India, in a recent #LivewithAutocar session by Autocar India said, “We’re looking at some time next year, at bringing that product (XC40 Recharge) to India, and we’re extremely excited about it. So next year, early, we’ll have S60 and then we’ll have the full battery electric vehicle [BEV] XC40”. That’s quite assuring, given that he has indicated in his previous interactions that his company would consider assembling EVs in India with CKD kits from Europe. Although that may seem a bit far-fetched at this point, it is likely that Volvo Cars is convinced that a new niche segment of electric cars – esp compact SUV or crossovers – is becoming popular in India.
And yes, the Volvo XC40 Recharge – the pure-electric variant of the popular XC40 compact SUV that is already on sale in India – is a right fit for the local buyers, especially for those in the premium spectrum of the emerging niche segment. It is fresh from the brand’s global portfolio of next-generation BEVs, also sharing the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that underpins this car and other key aggregates with its sister brands Polestar and Lynk & Co. The XC40 Recharge was just unveiled last year, and is just entering the global market in the second half of this year. Its high-performance and advanced equipment (connected and safety features) credentials will surely impress the buyers in its class, and help the brand to make a head start in the Indian market.
Volvo Cars says that the XC40 Recharge is conceived for a blend of responsive and responsible driving. With an all-wheel-drive (AWD) architecture, the car is driven by two electric motors on each axles, generating a max power of 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque, translating into 1,500 kgs of towing capacity. This output can take the car from 0-100 kmph in just 4.9 seconds, with a top speed limited to 180 kmph. The electric powertrain specs are similar to that of Polestar 2 EV, as both the cars are based on the CMA e-car platform developed by Geely.
As far as battery pack is concerned, the compact electric SUV boasts a 78 kWh unit neatly integrated into the floorboard. It is said that the battery pack is enclosed in an aluminium case to render it highly rigid and protect the same from any deformities. It offers a driving range of over 400 kms on single charge, based on WLPT and EPA driving cycles as cited by the manufacturer. The XC40 Recharge comes with an on-board 11kW AC charger, while the car supports DC fast-charging up to 150 kW, surging the SoC to 80 percent in approximately 40 minutes.
Further, the Volvo XC40 Recharge scores high with its connected and remote applications. How about ‘Volvo On Call’ app that enables you remotely to let your friends and family access your car when they need it? Or a wireless phone charging inside the car? This is perhaps the first-ever Volvo with an infotainment system powered by advanced Android automotive OS, which is also integrated with Volvo On Call platform of digital services. The XC40 Recharge is also the first car from the brand to offer over-the-air updates to its software and OS in the car. The car has no start button, just hop on with your remote key and touch the brake pedal!
In terms of visual differences both inside and out, the XC40 Recharge appears largely identical with the ICE-powered variants, except for the front grille and few other minor differences. The interior styling is also more humble and down-to-earth, which will impress Indian buyers in its class. With no engine up front, the electric car offers ‘frunk’ for extra storage space under the hood! Pricing of this electric car will be made very competitive in India, Frump has assured. “We will be able to have a very good offer on the XC 40 EV for the customers, compared to the petrol version. Of course it’ll be more expensive, but I think the gap between the petrol and the BEV will be much less”, he added.
