I Drove The Electric Volvo XC40 On A 500-Mile Road Trip, Here's How It Went

Volvo was kind enough to loan me the new XC40 Recharge for a calendar week. So I took it on a route trip to the northern function of Michigan. About 500 miles round-trip. That might not audio like a lot, but the XC40 Recharge is rated equally having a range of effectually 208 miles. Which means I'd demand to charge it at least in one case – most likely twice, or three times – on this trip. So it was a good way to see how the Volvo XC40 Recharge works as a road trip motorcar. And to see if you can really practice a road trip with an electrical vehicle.

Keep in mind that, once you get outside of metro Detroit, Michigan is very rural. And that was speedily realized when planning this trip with Plugshare. Which, if you practise ain an EV, and don't utilize Plugshare, you're doing information technology wrong. Essentially information technology's a website that shows you chargers around y'all, and on your route. And allows you to map out your charging stops as well.

This is as well an of import tool, because it can show yous where the fast chargers are. And that'south some other of import thing to check out when driving long distances in an electric vehicle. What's nice about this, is that you can add a charging end to your road, and it will show you the distance betwixt stops. So you'll know if your vehicle can make information technology. Additionally, you can so send it to Google Maps and be on your way. It'southward very well built, to exist quite honest.

DC fast charging is a life saver

Typically, electrical vehicles do not charge fast. And tin can take hours and hours to charge upward. Only the Volvo XC40 Recharge supports DC fast charging up to 150kW. Though, even when plugged into a 150kW station or a 350kW station, we only ever saw it get up to effectually 120kW. Which is fine. It was yet able to charge from ii% to about eighty% in a little over 40 minutes. So it wasn't a big inconvenience to be honest.

But, those faster chargers are not really available outside of the major cities. Information technology'due south actually merely Electrify America that has those super fast chargers bachelor. And hither in Michigan, there's simply a few locations. Luckily i was less than a mile from my apartment. So it was piece of cake to accuse up during the calendar week that I had the XC40 Recharge.

Dorsum to my trip to Northern Michigan, notwithstanding. I stopped to charge once on the way upwardly at that place. At a Chevy dealership in Midland, MI. They offer "fast" charging, only not DC fast charging. Its express to just 25kW. Which is admittedly slow. Simply it allowed me to stop, allow the car charge, take hold of something to eat and use the bathroom. While besides giving me enough charge to go to the last destination in Leland, MI.

Basically, I charged once on the way there, and while I was in Leland, then over again on the way back. Fast Charging is amazing, and information technology actually makes it easier to own an EV fifty-fifty if you don't own a home where you can charge overnight.

EPA estimates the XC40 Recharge can get 208 miles, I got more than that

During the calendar week that I was using the Volvo XC40 Recharge, I found that I was able to get way more than the EPA gauge on range. The EPA estimates about 208 miles on a full accuse. Well, going from 90% downward to x% I was able to hit almost 230 miles. So I'm sure I could hit 240 or even 250 miles on a 100% full charge.

Of grade, that comes downward to how you bulldoze. If yous drive more efficiently, then you're going to get a ton of range on a single charge hither. Which makes the 208 mile range a bit more than bearable.

Things like keeping the air conditioning lower, not accelerating hard when the lite turns green, etc. Can actually help extend the range. Now I didn't continue the air workout off, it was 90 degrees out. But I kept it comfortably low. Unremarkably on the "motorcar" setting.

Information technology drives beautifully

Similar almost electric cars, the Volvo XC40 Recharge drives smoothly and quietly. A lot of this is due to the electric motor that'southward within. Making it super quiet. In fact, the XC40 Recharge volition beep when y'all are backing up, to let pedestrians know that there is an EV moving. This is not unique to the Volvo XC40 Recharge, a lot of EVs do this – the Mustang MACH-E does it too.

It can take corners pretty well, while staying flat in all four corners. That is impressive given how large this Meaty SUV is. Information technology's actually bigger than the Compact SUV that I drive every 24-hour interval, and definitely weighs more, even though it is electric.

As well, like most EVs, the Volvo XC40 Recharge can advance very quickly. And so for longer road trips, the Adaptive Cruise Control was really nice to have. But ready the Adaptive Cruise Control to 70 (the speed limit on most Michigan highways) and enjoy the ride. Volvo does too have lane assist here, which makes the XC40 Recharge very close to a autonomous driving auto. Though, Volvo won't say that. And they still want y'all to pay attention. In fact, if the car thinks you're not paying attention, it will tell yous to pay attention and disengage.

I also noticed a pop up on the screen, once we drive the 250 miles to Leland, that the commuter needed a break and telling me to get some coffee. I don't call back this had anything to practice with my driving, just a timing thing. Since I had been driving for well-nigh four hours.

Android Automotive is however a work in progress

I of the bigger reasons we asked Volvo to hook us upwardly with a test bulldoze of the XC40 Recharge was to have a expect at Android Automotive. We've seen it at Google I/O for a few years already, but wanted to encounter how information technology handled in the machine when you're actually going somewhere. And well, it'due south a mixed bag.

The thought is audio. Giving you a bigger screen for basically Android Auto, but without your telephone. However, the UI is still not every bit intuitive as it could exist. For one, switching from Maps to your Music is a few more push button pushes than it should be. The app drawer is also non sorted the way you'd expect.

Only perhaps, the bigger consequence is that about of the apps y'all have and use on Android Auto, is not available on Android Automotive. And that is an issue. When looking for streaming music, information technology's basically YouTube Music and Spotify, and that'south it. Apple Music and Amazon Music are both missing, among others. And the Google Play Shop is pretty lacking besides.

Wireless charging is a prissy touch

Wireless charging isn't actually new in cars, GM has been putting information technology into their vehicles for years now. Only it's nevertheless a nice characteristic to accept. Existence able to put my phone down in the console and have information technology charge while I'm driving is nice. Especially since it'southward not powering Android Auto here, so that it tin actually charge without any issues.

Even so, the downside here is that it is very slow at charging. I'd approximate it'southward around 5W wireless charging here. I put my telephone down to charge at almost 20%, and then drove about a one-half hour home and it was simply up to around 25%. Which I was a bit disappointed in. But hey, it'southward improve than zippo.

At that place are USB-C PD ports above the wireless charging infinite, so if you do need faster charging it is available. Just the convenience of putting your phone down and having it charge automatically is quite nice.

And then should you purchase the Volvo XC40 Recharge?

The XC40 Recharge is not a cheap car, like most EVs, it's pretty pricey. This trim costs around $55,000, putting it in a higher place the Tesla Model 3, and fifty-fifty the Model Y, depending on the options you choose. And the biggest matter going against the XC40 Recharge is the range. Simply 208 miles is not a lot for a car that costs $60,000. If you mostly just bulldoze around town going to work, running errands and such, then it's probably going to be fine. But if you program on driving longer distances and don't live in or nearly a major city, this may not be the best selection for y'all.

This is Volvo's first fully-electrical car, and merely like with technology, it'south a starting time-generation product and is going to be improved with future EVs from Volvo.

Volvo has also announced its get-go built from the basis up, electrical vehicle, the C40 Recharge. We don't know everything about that model yet, like the range. Simply nosotros do know that it is more expensive than the XC40 Recharge.

Source: https://www.androidheadlines.com/volvo-xc40-recharge-ev-review

Posted by: malonetheried.blogspot.com

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