Withturbodiesel derivatives graduallydisappearing from passenger-car line-ups, Volvo SAis moving swiftly toward its planned all-electric future by integrating greener technology into its diverse product portfolio. Contributor Ian McLaren looks at the options available to our increasingly efficiency-conscious market.

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are no longer bought only by a handful of “early adopters”;the rapid uptake ofall-electric vehicles in Europe during the past twelve months has forced Volvoto fast-track its plan to give the brand’sPolestar division free rein to develop an all-electric architecture. In fact, such is the urgency to bring new BEVs to market that Volvohas brought the project in-house. While the progress that Polestar has made to date is paying dividends in terms of thisstandalone, performance-oriented premium sub-brand’s reputation and early sales success, Volvo’s published target of 50% of total sales comprising EVs by 2025 is looming large.

If that target isn’t ambitious enough, the Gothenburg-based brand’s percentage of BEVsales is supposed to hit 100% by 2030 (with the company aiming for climate neutrality by 2040).Therefore, Volvo Caris committed to easing its customer base – notably in markets that aren’t quite ready for e-mobility – into its vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future. And what’s the best way to do that? Offer plug-in petrol-electric vehicles(PHEVs) in its line-up.

XC40 with 600 Nm

With the all-new all-electric C40 Recharge (built on a BEV platform) yet to be confirmed for our market, the only models within the brand’s recently revised local line-up that don’t feature some level of electrification are the T3 and T4 derivatives of the XC40range, the former fitted with an inline 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine and the latter with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol motor.

The exciting news for this quirky premium compact SUV range, however, is the introduction of a battery-powered P8 Recharge Twin AWDderivative. Fitted with a 150-kW electric motor at each axle(in other words, front and rear), this pseudo-all-wheel-driveoffering produces 660 Nm of torque and has claimed 0-100-kph sprint time of less than 5 seconds. The operating range for the BEVis listed as 418 km per charge.

XC60 real-world plug-in

The portfolio of the recently facelifted XC60 features an enticing new front-wheel-drive, entry-level model (namely the B5 Momentum priced from R750000), as well as the introduction of both updated mild-hybrid powertrains (including a 48V battery system that supplements the ICE) and an impressive new plug-in hybrid setup.

The latter featuresa 3-layer battery packageand can run in all-electric mode (battery level permitting) for up to 77 km, before spurring the 233 kW/400 Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol motor into action. TheT8 Rechargecanbe charged via either a standard household outlet, a wall box home charger or at public-charging facilities. Able to accept up to 170 kW of direct current, Volvo’s pair ofT8 Recharge derivatives have the potential to be charged from depleted to 80% in 30 minutes.

The T8 plug-in hybrid drivetrain can be operated ineither all-electric Pure mode (when the driver can utilise the car’s “One Pedal” regenerative braking system) or left in Hybrid mode for best-of-both-worlds driving characteristics – zero-emissions driving on battery poweronly or long-range touring on petrol/electric propulsion. Also available in the updated XC90 line-up, the “EV with a back-up plan” T8 drivetrain is mated with an 8-speed Geartronic auto transmission.

Hey Google

Volvo is the first automotive brand to partner with Google to incorporate thetech powerhouse’s innovative software solution within its fleet. Including such features as Google Play, Google Maps and the voice-activated Google Assist, this new infotainment technology also allows for over-the-air updates and upgrades, as the vehicle’s package evolves.

Crisp and more responsive than the Sensus Connect system it replaces, this sim-operated “personal assistant” is housed within the brand’s existing 12.3-inch, portrait-oriented display. Already installed in the updated XC40 and XC60 ranges, thesystem will feature in the XC90 from June 2022 (a date from which Volvo Car SA will also introduce a built-in sim service for this system. Atthe moment, itrelies on data from a mated mobile phone).

In T8 plug-in hybrid and P8 all-electric “chord cars”, this software incorporates a virtual driving coach that helps the vehicle’s operator achievemaximum energy efficiency and, therefore, optimal range from each charge.

Volvo customer care

To further entice its customers to go the electric route, Volvo Cars SA includes the installation of a home wall charge box (offering an output of 3.5 kW in a single-phase setup and 11 kW on a 3-phase system). The brand’s innovative new customer care package also allows for use of a T3- or T4 turbopetrol Volvo model for a period of 2 weeks per year (for the first 3 years of ownership), should a customer be wary of tackling longer (holiday) distances in anall-electricVolvo.

Volvo Car South Africa hopes that “chord cars” (plug-in hybrid and all-electric models) will account for 20% of its annual sales in the coming year,and the company’s managing director, Greg Maruszewski, is confident the brand has negotiated the necessary shift in strategy brought on by the deletion of turbodiesel derivatives from our market’s global allocation.

“Our mild-hybrid vehicles boast reduced tailpipe emissions, improved fuel economy and stronger on-road performance, making them ideal stepping-stones to our plug-in hybrids – which add the major advantage of a pure-electric driving mode – and ultimately our all-electric offering. In short, our completely renewed line-up covers all the electrification bases,”Maruszewski says.

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