The Volvo C40 Recharge Electric SUV: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Volvo C40 Recharge Electric SUV

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Sweden has created its fair share of global brands, but none with a reputation as good as Volvo Cars, when it comes to passenger safety. Volvo cars is an automotive manufacturer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Volvo Group has a long history of success and was established in 1927. The Volvo electric vehicle (EV) current portfolio includes:

• C40 Recharge Pure Electric Crossover
• EX30 Pure Electric SUV
• Volvo EX90 Pure Electric SUV
• XC40 Recharge Pure Electric SUV
• XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid SUV
• XC60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid SUV
• XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid SUV
• S60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid Saloon
• S90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid Saloon
• V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid Estate
• V90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid Estate

Though the Volvo C40 pure electric SUV has commonality with the all-electric XC40 Recharge, the C40 has been designed as a compact crossover SUV, with a sportier look. The exterior styling includes a sloping roofline, different to the XC40 exterior styling. The Volvo C40 was released in March 2021. Production commenced in 2021.

The C40 has the same EV battery size as the XC40 (78 kWh). The manufacturer claims a zero-emission electric range up to 434 km (WLTP). Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the EV delivers a useful and practical electric range, for most day-to-day needs and for longer distance motorway driving.

For those new to electric driving, a number of factors impact the claimed range. These include: driving profile, weather conditions, road surface, wheel size, onboard services used, passenger load and more. The electric car also incorporates regenerative braking to increase the efficiency and electric range. A pure electric range closer to 370 km is more realistic.

The all-electric compact Volvo SUV is perfect for families already familiar with the advantages of owning and driving a Volvo car i.e. a fantastic reputation for safety and quality. Of course, the electric Recharge further enhances this enviable reputation, given the environment-friendly nature of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) i.e. no tailpipe pollution!

The Volvo EV offers DC charging up to 130 kW. The EV can be charged up to 80% in 28 minutes. It is worth noting that the more recent EVs, in particular, in the premium segment, offer faster DC charging capability. Having said that, 28 minutes is just enough time for a coffee break and motorway rest!

The EV does incorporate a three-phase 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard (0%-100%: 7 hours). Given that most homes in India are powered by single-phase power supply, most of us will not be able to take advantage of the three-phase onboard charger. Single-phase EV charging (7.4 kW) will take longer!

In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive (FWD) C40 electric SUV can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds (maximum power: 231 PS/ torque: 330 Nm). The top speed for the EV is 180 km/h. Of course, the electric car also benefits from instant torque.

The e-SUV is practical and versatile without compromising on quality and comfort. The rear seats are comfortable for adults, with ample legroom and headroom. The EV offers a 413 L boot space. Also included as standard are: a new generation 12-inch driver information display, 9-inch centre display, instant access to built-in Google apps and services and more.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The Volvo C40 Recharge electric SUV is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Good pure electric range	Only available in one EV battery size
High interior quality using sustainable materials (leather-free interior)	Only available as a front-wheel drive (FWD)
130 kW DC rapid charging	Sloping roofline not to everyones liking

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The All-Electric Volvo C40 Recharge SUV (credit: Volvo)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Body Type:	SUV (crossover)
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Trim (1 Option)
Volvo C40 Recharge (Rs N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 78 kWh
Charging:	130 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 28 mins). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1591
Width (mm):	1873
Length (mm):	4440
Wheelbase (mm):	2702
Turning Circle (m):	11.8
Boot Space (L):	413

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Volvo C40 Recharge
EV Battery Capacity:	78 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	434 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	18.2
Charging:	130 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 28 mins). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs)
Top Speed:	180 km/h
0-100 km/h:	7.4 seconds
Drive:	Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	170
Horsepower (hp):	231
Torque (Nm):	330
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Weight (kg):	2,045
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Market

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), more commonly referred to simply as, electric vehicles (EVs) or as plug-in electric cars, have come a long way over the past decade and certainly a long way over the past 100 years.

Electric vehicles came into prominence in the early 1900’s, a time when horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transportation.  Archived black and white photographs from that period show famous avenues like Madison Avenue in New York city filled with horse-drawn carriages.  

In stark contrast, a similar photograph taken a decade later of Madison Avenue showed not a single horse-drawn carriage.  Instead the avenue was filled with motor vehicles, a new invention at that time. 

We are now witnessing a similar fundamental shift in road transportation, as polluting internal combustion engines (ICE) petrol and diesel vehicles are being replaced by low-emission and zero-emission electric vehicles.

In countries like the United Kingdom, a leader in e-mobility, we can expect a comprehensive replacement of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 (UK will ban the sale of new ICE cars in 2030). The UK is not the only country that has a vision of a mass transition to zero-tailpipe emission electric cars.

Since 2011, the global electric vehicle (EV) market has increased at a year-over-year growth rate of over 50%. In 2020, according to the Global EV Outlook 2021 report, the global stock of electric vehicles (EVs) had surpassed 10 million units . In 2015, the Global stock was just over 1 million units.

In 2020, Europe accounted for the largest share of new car registrations of EVs (1.4 million registered electric vehicles), followed by China (1.2 million electric vehicles). In Europe, countries like Norway, Iceland and Sweden continue to show strong leadership in the transition to electric driving. In Norway more than 75% of new cars are electric, followed by 50% in Iceland and 30% in Sweden.

However, this is not just a western phenomenon. A number of countries across the world have announced their support for electric cars, to include India. Pure electric cars are now common sightings in a number of global markets, and EV automotive manufacturers, like California based Tesla Motors are now household brands.

Traditional automotive manufactures have also shown significant commitment to the migration to electric engines, to include Volvo Cars, the Volkswagen Group, Renault, Nissan, Peugeot, Hyundai, Mercedes, Land Rover and many more. Forecast for the sale of EVs suggest up to 30 million electric vehicles to be sold before the end of the current decade.

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Types Of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

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“Electric vehicle” is an umbrella term, and a broad one at that. There are a number of different types of electric vehicles (EVs), each with its distinct characteristics and advantages. These include:

• BEVs: Battery-electric vehicles (pure electric)
• PHEVs: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) combined)
• MHEVs: Mild hybrid electric vehicles (internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel) along with regenerative braking)
• FCEVs: Fuel cell electric vehicle (electric with hydrogen as fuel)

The above “types” are powered either entirely or partially by electric energy and have different environmental impacts.

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Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), also known as pure electric vehicles, are powered entirely by electricity (i.e. the vehicle does not have a conventional internal combustion engine). BEVs have zero-tailpipe emissions and help improve local air quality.

BEVs are also very economical to drive. A BEV can cost as little as Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive. Examples of best-selling EVs include, the all-electric Tesla Model 3 and the all-electric Renault Zoe. A BEV is charged by plugging in the electric vehicle to a dedicated electric car charging station (home or public charging stations). BEVs are well suited for those living in towns, cities and urban centres. Of course, battery-electric vehicles are also suitable for those living in rural settings.

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Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) differ from battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), in that, PHEVs use both a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric engine for propulsion. Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine the advantages of electric driving and internal combustion engine driving.

On shorter distances, the PHEV uses the electric mode to drive emission-free, using the on-board EV battery and regenerative braking. For longer distances, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles switches to using the internal combustion engine.

With a PHEV, the vehicle can cost as little Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive on e-mode, without any tailpipe pollution, and also be driven long-distances, without the fear of range anxiety! Most PHEVs have an EV battery of up to 15 kWh and can achieve a zero-emission electric range of up to 50 kilometres.

No wonder PHEVs are fast becoming popular globally, with much potential or India. Like a BEV, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is charged by using an external power source (EV charging point) for charging.

PHEVs are suitable for those that drive long-distances on a regular basis but want to lower the negative environmental impact from tailpipe pollution. PHEVs are also suitable for those individuals and families that are seeking to save money by taking advantage of electric driving. The Volvo XC40 PHEV and the Volkswagen Golf 8 are good examples of PHEVs.

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Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs)

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Mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) are a limited form of electric driving. These vehicles also use hybrid technologies (electric driving and internal combustion engine), but the EV battery is much smaller than a BEV or PHEV.

Moreover, in a mild hybrid, the EV battery cannot be charged via an external source (i.e. EV charging station). In a MHEV, the battery is charged by capturing the energy released during braking, a process known as regenerative braking. MHEVs have lower tailpipe emissions, and are more economical to own, run and maintain than petrol and diesel cars.

MHEVs are a better option than a petrol or diesel car, but not as good an option as a BEV or PHEV. Mild hybrids are well suited for those living in regions with limited charging infrastructure. Again, MHEVs have great potential in India, given the limited public EV charging infrastructure.

The Toyota Prius is a good example of a mild hybrid electric vehicle.

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) also called hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, have a fuel cell stack that uses hydrogen to generate the electricity needed to power the electric vehicle. The fuel cell generates electricity and pure water vapour that can escape via the tailpipe.

It is capable of generating electricity as long as there is a steady supply of hydrogen. Fuel cell electric vehicles can be refuelled with hydrogen at purpose built filling stations. Filling an FEC takes no more than five minutes.

FCEVs have a range of about 500 kilometers or more between refueling. Today, the only and major limitation is the very limited hydrogen refuelling station network globally. The Toyota Mirai FCEV is a good example of this type of EV.

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While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.

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