Automobile club Luxembourg

Swedish Plug-In

This is the first Volvo series with a fully electric model, and also the last to also include a rechargeable hybrid model. The new model is called the XC40 Recharge T5, with the Swedes abandoning the term Twin-Engine for the 2021 vintage of partially electrified cars.
 
The Recharge T5 is powered by a three-cylinder 180 horsepower (132 kW) petrol engine with a torque of 265 Newton metres, a 1.5 litre cylinder capacity and an electric motor delivering 82 horsepower (60 kW) and 160 Nm. Unlike the previous dual motor models, the electric motor doesn’t offer all-wheel drive this time. It’s limited at the front by the seven-speed dual clutch transmission and is therefore designed as a two-speed transmission, as it can use second and fourth gear.
 
Otherwise, the technology is mainly evolving within the usual parameters. Volvo gives the standard ranges in electric mode as 42 to 45 kilometres and around ten more for purely urban journeys.  According to the calculation method applicable to rechargeable hybrid engines, this corresponds to a fuel consumption of 2.0 to 2.4 litres per 100 kilometres. This Volvo also proves that these are again theoretical values that are highly dependent on personal usage. A special hybrid display that works like a kind of rev counter allows you to use both motors as efficiently as possible. Depending on the position of the accelerator pedal, a lightning symbol shows the margin remaining before the combustion engine kicks in (and the droplet symbol inside isn’t yet full). Conversely, in the low to medium gears, the hybrid engine can often be “brought back” to E mode with a brief touch of the pedal. In any event, the Recharge T5 is a pleasantly smooth drive.
 
And of course, the Recharge also offers the option to “freeze” the battery capacity with a view to subsequent city centre journeys, ask the petrol engine to recharge the battery or switch to electric drive only. It then achieves speeds of up to 125 km/h. The gear lever of the dual clutch gearbox can also be used to select the B(rake) mode, further increasing energy recovery.
 

New features

The electric models of the Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 also have new internal features. There will be an intermediary Expression version between the rather elegant Inscription model with its crystal gear lever and wood-finished structured inlets and the sporty R-Design with leather and chrome features. Prices start at €46,590.

Image source: Volvocars
Text source: Ampnet