Volvo have introduced a new Recharge plug-in hybrid powertrain

Volvo have introduced a new powertrain for the Recharge plug-in hybrid on its 90 and 60 series models to significantly improve the electric range, whilst lowering CO2 emissions and improving drivability. This new hybrid powertrain increases the all-electric range to up to 56 miles on a single charge, with the average premium car owner travelling fewer than 31 miles each weekday. This will allow most Volvo drivers with home charging to complete their daily motoring on pure electric power. The main improvements include a new long-range battery, which features a third layer of cells to increase nominal energy from 11.6 kWh to 18.8 kWh, plus a more powerful rear electric motor which delivers 145hp. This additional electric power creates a combined output of 350hp for Recharge T6 and 455hp for Recharge T8 models, making the T8 the most powerful Volvo car ever produced. New updates also include one-pedal drive on specific models. With an increased battery capacity, more customers will be able to drive primarily in pure electric mode, which is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by up to around 50 percent under the WLTP drive cycle. “It’s 2021, and people should no longer have to rely on petrol or diesel when commuting,” said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Cars. “Our latest plug-in hybrids deliver all the electric driving range needed in most people’s everyday life.” The new e-motor increases the power of the rear wheels by 65 percent, enhancing both performance and driveability. The upgraded e-motor also allows better all-wheel drive capability, which is useful for travelling at lower speeds, when towing or driving on slippery roads. The addition of one-pedal drive can help to deliver a smooth driving experience by giving the driver the option to control both acceleration and deceleration through only the accelerator pedal. This will be rolled out instantly on the Volvo XC60, S90 and V90 Recharge plug-in hybrids. Volvo Cars aims to sell 1.2 million cars globally by the middle of this decade, with at least half of them being fully electric cars. By 2030, it plans to become a fully electric car company. “Driving a plug-in hybrid is often a stepping-stone to going fully electric,” said Henrik Green. “We believe that this upgrade will show to many that driving electric is the future, and take us closer to our 2030 ambition of becoming fully electric.” The new powertrain is introduced on all Volvo Recharge plug-in hybrid models based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), including the Volvo S60, V60, XC60, S90, V90 and XC90 Recharge models.

For more information, contact your local Harwoods Volvo dealership.