Volvo Cars has Started production of a fully electric version of the best-selling XC40 SUV at its plant in Ghent, Belgium.  XC40 Recharge is based on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), an advanced vehicle platform co-developed within the Geely Group.  The all-wheel drive XC40 Recharge offers a projected range of over 400 km (WLTP, Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure) on a single charge and output of 402hp. The battery can charge to 80 percent of its capacity in approximately 40 mins on a fast-charger system. 

Volvo Cars safety engineers have completely redesigned and reinforced the frontal structure to address the absence of an engine, meet Volvo’s high safety requirements and help keep people as safe as in any other Volvo. The battery pack is protected by a safety cage embedded in the middle of the car’s body structure. Its placement in the floor of the car also lowers the center of gravity of the car, for better protection against roll-overs. Inside, an innovative approach to all-round functionality gives drivers plenty of storage space, for example in the doors and in the trunk. Because it has no internal combustion engine, the car gives drivers even more storage space via a so-called ‘frunk’ under the front hood.

The XC40 Recharge is the first of several fully electric Volvos to come and today’s production start represents a significant step towards Volvo Cars’ ambition to reduce its CO2 footprint per car by 40 percent by 2025. That same year, it expects 50 percent of its global sales to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrids.