Recently, Volvo Cars – owned by the Geely group – reviewed the layout of its engines on its 100% electric models, the Volvo C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. Thus, the Recharge version (two-wheel drive) sees its electric motor moved from the front axle to the rear, while its power increases to 175 kW (238 hp), or 3% more than before.
Despite an unchanged battery capacity (69 kWh), range (WLTP mixed cycle) is up. It goes from 425 km to 460 km (+35 km) for the XC40 Recharge model and from 438 km to 476 km (+38 km) for the C40 Recharge. These improvements are due to improvements made to the cooling system.
As for recharging, it takes 34 minutes to go from 10 to 80% from a CCS fast charger at 130 kWh.
The Recharge Extended Range version (two-wheel drive) benefits from a new engine comprising a permanent magnet electric motor on the rear axle developing 185 kW (252 hp), powered by an 82 kWh battery. The new ranges (WLTP combined cycle) are 514 kilometers for the XC40 Recharge Extended Range and 533 kilometers for the C40 Recharge Extended Range.
The fast charge (DC) power, increased from 150 kW to 200 kW, allows you to go from 10 to 80% in 28 minutes.
Homemade and more powerful electric motors
The Recharge Twin version with all-wheel drive, equipped with two electric motors, also sees its power boosted. Thus, instead of two motors of 150 kW each, one per axle, there is now a permanent magnet electric motor of 183 kW placed on the rear axle, and a new asynchronous electric motor of 117 kW on the axle before, a cumulative power of 408 hp.
The new Volvo C40 Recharge Twin and XC40 Recharge Twin benefit from an 82 kWh battery capacity, whose improved cooling has added range (combined cycle WLTP). As a result, the XC40 Recharge Twin goes from 438 to 500 km (+62 km) of autonomy and from 451 kilometers to 507 kilometers (+56 km) for the C40 Recharge Twin.