Volvo XC40 goes fully electric
Recently Volvo revealed an XC40 Plug-in Hybrid model to slot in alongside its petrol and diesel derivatives, now the Swedish automaker has added a fully electric model to the range.
Swopping an internal combustion engine for an electric motor, Volvo joins an exclusive group of automotive manufacturers that have leapt to fully electric vehicles, the biggest change to the automotive sector in over a century. “Regardless of what drives a car forward, be it an electric machine or combustion engine, a Volvo must be safe. The fully electric XC40 will be one of the safest cars we have ever built,” Malin Ekholm, head of safety at Volvo Cars.
The lack of a combustion engine has presented challenges while developing the safety systems but did not deter Volvo from creating one of the safest cars on the road. One of the primary challenges was to redesign and reinforce the frontal structure of the vehicle due to the absence of an engine. “The fundamentals around safety are the same for this car as for any other Volvo. People are inside, and the car needs to be designed to be safe for them,” says Malin Ekholm.
When developing, Volvo focussed on the safety of vehicle occupants and the battery which is fitted in the floor of the vehicle to combat forces which causes roll-overs. In addition to the placement of the battery, Volvo created a crumple zone around the battery using extruded aluminium to protect it during a collision. Volvo also distributes collision forces away from the occupants and battery by fitting the electric powertrain to the reinforced rear of the vehicle. The fully electric XC40 also introduces the latest in Volvo safety systems, known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The system which is developed by Volvo and Zenuity presents a scalable system which features an array of radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors and forms part of the foundations of future autonomous drive technology.
“We are facing two massive challenges: global warming and road fatalities. Both are tantamount to the survival and well-being of the human race. I am proud to see that Volvo is addressing both with the electric XC40. And the good news (for both the planet and road users) is that customers can expect more of the same from Volvo in the future,” Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director of Volvo Car South Africa.
The fully electric XC40 will be revealed to the public on October 16.
