Volvo will be the first legacy automaker to electrify its entire lineup. That goal will occur in the next few months as its model year 2023 portfolio hits the road. The models are all either battery electric vehicles (BEVs), mild hybrids and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
For the 2022 model year, the company already has two BEVs in the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the C40 Recharge. The XC90 and XC60 SUVs, S90 and S60 sedans, and V60 wagon all come in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Recharge guise as well. The only vehicle that doesn't have an electrified counterpart, yet, is the V90 Cross Country wagon.
This plays into Volvo's plans of being a pure electric car company by 2030, and becoming 100 percent carbon neutral by 2040. They're not the only automaker on the clock. Bentley is also going pure electric in 2030. Ford doesn't have a date for electrification, but it did promise to be carbon neutral, as a company, by 2050. Cadillac is aiming for 2030 as well, while Honda says by 2040 all gas cars will be phased out.
The Volvo XC90 and XC40 SUVs, and the V60 wagon are now available mild hybrid engines. Those vehicles use a small battery and regenerative braking to save energy, for use when needed either for performance or efficiency. It's a half-step before buying a HEV, PHEV or BEV.
Recharge PHEVs play a happy middle ground as well, allowing for some all-electric driving, but with the reassurance having a tank of gasoline allows. The S90 Recharge sedan and V60 Recharge wagon, delivers 455 horsepower and has an electric range of 38 miles when fully charged. The bigger XC90 Recharge SUV will take drivers 35 miles before the gasoline engine kicks in.
And if buyers are ready to take the full eelectric plunge, the XC40 Recharge small SUV and C40 Recharge fastback SUV both offer about 225 miles and a whopping 402 horsepower with all-wheel drive. It can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 35 minutes on a DC fast charger.
Additionally, for 2023 all Volvos will come standard with Google built-in, which will "offer a seamless transition between digital life at home and on the phone, bringing customers' digital lives, and much greater personalization, directly into their cars".
Having built-in Google means that the models come with Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation and Google Play for the app store. The system is already standard on the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge, the XC60, S90, and V90 Cross Country. All Volvo's will now come with over-the-air updates, to get any software upgrades remotely.
The 2023 Volvos will arrive in dealerships this summer.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jake Lingeman is the Managing Editor for the Autos team at Newsweek. He has previously worked for Autoweek, The Detroit ... Read more
