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 S90 conventional petrol and diesel saloon variants have been available since 2016. The first generation (Volvo 900 Series) were manufactured between 1990 and 1998. The S90 saloon was launched in 2016 at the International Auto Show in Detroit. The vehicle was given a facelift in 2020.
As with other Volvo models, the company has also introduced the S90 as a lower emission plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). In fact, Volvo has stopped selling the conventional petrol variant, for this mid-sized executive saloon car.
Without an iota of doubt, the Volvo S90 Recharge PHEV has a compelling proposition, for both private and company-car drivers. The S90 electric vehicle (EV) has a 18.8 kWh onboard EV battery, with a claimed emission-free electric range up to 54.7 miles.
Even, adjusting for real-world driving, the S90 plug-in electric car should be able to deliver close to 50 miles on pure electric mode. This is above average, compared to other plug-in hybrid electric cars, which tend to deliver less than 30 zero-emission miles.
Given the excellent EV range, most families and company-car drivers, can take advantage of the e-mode to lower motoring bills. Depending on where and when the electric car is charged, the cost per mile on electric mode will be between 5 pence and 10 pence. Using the Volvo mid-sized saloon electric car for city and motorway driving, can achieve real financial savings.
The Volvo S90 PHEV, further strengthens its ultra-low cost motoring, with ultra-low tailpipe emissions. The automotive manufacturer claims tailpipe emissions as low as 18g CO2/km, which certainly will help reduce the local air pollution. Of course, driving on e-mode i.e. using the electric motor and onboard EV battery, will result in zero-tailpipe emissions.
However, the Volvo plug-in electric car disappoints in terms of charging capability. The EV has an onboard charger limited to 3.6 kW and is not capable of DC charging. For the price tag and EV battery size, we would have expected DC charging capability and an onboard charger up to 7.4 kW.
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.
Despite the placement of the onboard EV battery, practicality has not been compromised. The S90 plug-in offers a 461 L boot and ample space for passengers. The luxurious interior has been finished to a high standard and offers sustainable materials for the cabin.
The EV 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 all-wheel drive S90 plug-in electric saloon car combines the T8 powertrain with an electric motor. The EV can achieve 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds (455 hp). The top speed of the EV is 112 mph. Decent performance for city and motorway driving.
The EV is suitable for both families and company-car drivers. Company-car drivers can take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate for electric cars. 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 S90 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid Saloon (credit: Volvo)
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