Sweden has created its fair share of global brands, but none with a reputation as good as Volvo Cars, when it comes to passenger safety. Volvo cars is an automotive manufacturer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Volvo Group has a long history of success and was established in 1927. Since then the company has had multiple owners, to include the US based, Ford Motor Company. Its current owner is a Chinese automotive behemoth, Geely Automobile, which acquired Volvo Cars in 2010. Geely also owns the automotive brands Lotus Cars and Polestar.
Volvo Cars was one of the first mainstream OEM’s to commit to a push towards zero-tailpipe emission road transportation. In 2017, the company announced its intention to ‘electrify every car in our range’. Volvo is not new to ‘electric propulsion’ and had already deployed a test fleet of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2010 and had launched the first plug-in hybrid diesel car in 2012. In March 2021, the company announced its ambition to be a fully electric brand by 2030. The company is also committed to becoming ‘climate neutral’ across the value chain by 2040. The name Volvo is derived from Latin. It means “I roll’. The logo is an ancient chemistry sign for iron, signifying Volvo’s commitment to using high quality iron.
The company currently has the following battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs):
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
The Volvo S60 conventional petrol and diesel saloon variants have been available since 2000. As with other Volvo models, the company has also introduced the S60 as a lower tailpipe-emission plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). In late 2021, the PHEV was upgraded.
The updated Volvo S60 Recharge PHEV has much to offer families and company-car drivers seeking practicality and lower motoring costs. The upgrade of the onboard EV battery has positioned this saloon electric car, as one of the few EVs capable of delivering a real-world emission-free electric range close to 50 miles.
The Volvo S60 plug-in electric car has a 18.8 kWh onboard EV battery, with a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 55.9 miles (WLTP certified). This is certainly impressive, given the average EV range of a PHEV (25 miles).
However, the real-world EV range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, speed, passenger load, weather, road condition and more. Assuming a 50 mile emission-free electric range is more realistic, which still remains impressive and can be leveraged for city and motorway driving.
If your driving is predominantly motorway and long-distances, dependent on the internal combustion engine (ICE), it would be a challenge to truly leverage the benefits of zero-tailpipe emission electric driving. However, if the majority of your travel is shorter distances, then the e-mode will certainly prove to be useful in saving money. Do keep in mind that the average distance travelled a day in the UK is a mere 30 miles!
Volvo claims a fuel economy up to an incredible 403.5 mpg! But achieving anything close to this claimed figure, will require using the onboard electric motor, powered by the EV battery on a regular basis. As is the case with the real-world electric range, expect the real-world fuel economy to be lower than the manufacturer claimed figures.
Having said that, the using of the pure electric range will help deliver a far better fuel economy for the vehicle, compared to the conventional S60 petrol engine variant, which has a fuel economy up to 42.2 mpg. In any case, both, the EV range and fuel economy of the upgraded Volvo S60 saloon PHEV position it as class-leading.
Equally impressive is the updated tailpipe emissions data. Volvo claims tailpipe emissions as low as 17g (CO2/km), benefiting the local air quality. The conventional petrol variant has tailpipe emissions up to 153g CO2/km. Moreover, company-car drivers can also take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate given the ultra-low tailpipe emissions of the EV.
Despite the updates, it is disappointing to note that the PHEV does not offer DC charging. The EV has a 3.6 kW onboard charger. The Volvo electric vehicle can be charged 0% to 100% via a dedicated EV charging station in 5 hours. We at e-zoomed recommend a ‘topping up’ approach to EV charging. This way, EV range is available to use and regular charging also improves the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Volvo offers a 8 years or 100,000 miles warranty.
The all-wheel drive S60 plug-in electric saloon car combines the T8 powertrain with an electric motor. The EV can achieve 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds (455 hp). The top speed of the EV is 112 mph.
Despite the placement of the onboard EV battery, the EV is practical. The S60 plug-in offers a 391 L boot and ample space, headroom and legroom for passengers.
The interior has been finished to a high standard and offers leather free upholstery and recycled carpets. It also offers a generous level of standard equipment, safety features and technology. These include: google built in, 360° camera, BLIS and cross traffic alert, keyless entry and keyless start, advanced air purifier, intelligent safety assistance and more.
The plug-in hybrid does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG). Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!
The Volvo S60 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid Saloon (credit: Volvo)
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