A charming electric crossover. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

One of the things that EV proponents promote about EVs and why someone would want to drive one is the fact that they are, by and large, peppy.

Unlike internal combustion engines (ICEs), which build torque over time—and torque is what causes the tires to bite into the pavement and propels the vehicle forward—electric motors provide that torque from the proverbial get-go.

Think only of a food blender with its row of buttons from slow to fast. You can hit the fast button at the start and the blades whir at that speed.

More Power

One of the ways that EV producers are able to provide vehicles that seem to be the same but which have different performance characteristics is analogous to what ICE vehicle producers do: add something.

In the case of the ICE, it is generally the addition of cylinders (from four to six, say, as eight or more seem to be disappearing) or turbochargers.

In the case of an EV, it is generally the addition of another motor.

So in the case of the Volvo XC40 Recharge, there is one available as a rear-drive vehicle and another as an all-wheel drive vehicle.

The former has one motor that provides the vehicle with 248 hp. The latter has two motors, which brings the output up to 402 hp.

So while the single-engine propels the compact crossover from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, the dual-engine model goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

Now that reduction of 2.3 seconds comes at a cost.*

As in $1,750 to the cost of the vehicle.

Range and Charging

And as in a range reduction from 293 miles for the single motor to 254 miles for the dual motor, or about a 13% reduction in range. That reduction could have been greater had Volvo not deployed an asynchronous motor on the front axle: it operates only when required.

However, the extra motor doesn’t reduce the 57.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity, nor does it increase the 2,000 pounds of towing capacity.

And overall to help improve range, there are 19-inch wheels used. These not only look better, but they help with aerodynamics. Every little bit counts.

The XC40 Recharge has an 82-kWh battery pack that allows charging at up to 200 kW at a DC fast charger. This means a battery can go from 10% state-of-charge to 80% in less than a half hour.

Compact Charm

The XC40—pre-EV—was introduced as a model year 2018 subcompact luxury SUV. It is a vehicle that was part of putting Volvo on more consideration lists as it combines exterior style (and even an extra bit of charm as it was offering a different color roof from the body color at a time when that was still limited in auto-dom) and interior execution that one would associate with a Scandinavian furniture store: superb execution combining attractive looks with function.

The SUV features Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play for additional apps—which is to say that the folks at Volvo undoubtedly figure that the folks in Mountain View are a bit better at software than the folks in Gothenburg. They’re right.

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*On the subject of the 2.3 seconds: according to research from the University of Idaho, when it comes to the amount of time a driver reacts to suddenly seeing something that requires braking and braking, “An alert driver may react in less than 1 second, while other drivers may require up to 3.5 seconds.” Consequently, “Extensive research has shown that 90% of the driving population can react in 2.5 seconds or less. The brake reaction time normally used in design, therefore, is 2.5 seconds.” Which is to say, drivers of all vehicles need to pay attention, but particularly those who can go from A to B tout suite.