Breaking down Volvo's power train options for 2023 and beyond
These are heady days for our teammates at Hendrick Volvo Cars of Charleston, South Carolina. With an ever-expanding Volvo Cars Assembly Plant just north of the historic city and the manufacturer’s aggressive push for new sustainable vehicles, there is plenty for customers to be excited about.
For 2023, Volvo now powers its entire lineup through either hybridization or pure electric powertrains. Its step one in the Swedish manufacturer’s total vehicle transformation over the next seven years. Among the models Volvo is switching in the near future is the brand’s most popular, the XC 90 SUV. Re-branded the EX90, this new, fully electric SUV will be built in South Carolina, joining the current S60 sedan.
“Volvo is trying to introduce a new, electric model every year, which is going to build a path for Volvo to be fully electric by 2030,” said Joseph Willingham, product specialist, Hendrick Volvo Cars of Charleston. “They want half to be electric by 2025, starting with C40 Recharge, XC40 Recharge and the EX30.”
As part of Volvo’s journey to full electrification, the current lineup presents customers with three powertrain options: mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and plug-in electric. To understand what features each powertrain offers, the HendrickCars.com blog has put together a quick guide.
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MILD HYBRID
- Volvo’s current base powertrain (MHEV) utilizes both a combustion engine and small electric motor for smoother and more efficient use of start-stop energy
- MHEV powertrain technology is used to start the engine, slow the vehicle through braking and recovering restored energy in a 48-volt battery
- Technology operates in similar fashion to traditional internal combustion powertrain and does not require an electric plug-in to operate
What teammates are saying:
“It’s a good first step. All of Volvo’s vehicles are now hybrid. We have mild hybrids, which are all the cars that have the “B” designation -- the B5 or the B6. Those use to say T5 and T6,” said T.J. Tercanli, salesperson at Hendrick Volvo Cars of Charleston.
“Mild hybrids are almost indistinguishable from the traditional gasoline engines,” Joseph said. “There’s an extra 48-bolt battery that powers part of the car. It creates a linear, smoother acceleration pattern than the previous model years. The starter system is now electrified. It is a 13 horsepower electric starter and start up is very quiet. The auto start-stop at red lights, stop signs, bumper-to-bumper traffic where the engine turns off, whenever it starts back up you barely notice it.”
PLUG-IN ELECTRIC HYBRID
- Volvo’s plug-in electric hybrids combine extended electric range technology with the range safety of an internal combustion engine
- With extended electric range, more trips are achieved in pure electric mode, reducing running costs and positively impacting the environment
- This is a transition powertrain, with a plug-in component for the electric motor. The internal combustion engine supplements the electric motor by extending the vehicle’s range based on driving conditions
What teammates are saying:
“The customer with range anxiety should buy a plug-in hybrid,” T.J. said. “Once they have had it for a duration of years, (Volvo) going to have the (fully electric) EX90 come out. Initially, (the XC90) is going to have a 300-mile range, but the goal is to have a 600-mile range. I had a client get 1,000 miles of electric (range) without needing to use gas. If people are intrigued by it, people can use the plug-in hybrids as a stepping stone.”
“We have the plug-in hybrids for more variety, for the people who don’t want to go full electric yet. It is kind of like a baby step,” T.J. continued.
“The plug-in hybrids are fun to drive because they have 455 horsepower,” Joseph said. “You have a 313-horsepower engine with a 142-horsepower electric motor that powers the rear axle. The rear wheels are always going around with the plug-in hybrid motor, and you can drive around in pure electric mode – no engine up to 87 mph. There’s different drive modes in the plug-in hybrids.
“I have one client who plugs in his car every day when he’s around town,” Joseph added. “He never drives more than 35 miles. His biggest trip of the year is his multiple trips back and forth from Charleston. He said that he averaged 99 miles per gallon, achieving 1900 miles on one tank of gas.”
PURE ELECTRIC
- Volvo’s pure electric vehicle platform is the future of the brand. Zero tailpipe emissions and less noise at all speeds
- Powered by a high-voltage battery and dual electric motors
- Full plug-in EV with a variety of entry points in the future. Volvo plans to be fully electric by 2030
What teammates are saying:
“The C40 (all electric) and the XC40 Recharge, which once existed as a gas model,” T.J. said. “The C40 is (Volvo’s) first-ever purpose built electrified vehicle. They have also announced the EX30, which is going to be smaller than the C40. That new vehicle is going to appeal to a younger buyer. They are making these cars look really cool and fun.”
“The fully electric cars have a lot of power,” Joseph said. “They are around 400 horsepower now. Going to have another model next year that has less horsepower, a rear-wheel drive with more range. The (new vehicles) will have around 300 miles of electric range, as the cars now have around 236 miles of range. That’s perfect for someone who’s driving around town.”
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