Demystifying Hybrid Cars - Volvo XC60 Recharge
August 03, 2023
Hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming popular with car manufacturers, but it's difficult to see their allure until you've had first-hand experience with these vehicles. We had the privilege of spending some time with the Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge, to better understand what the hype is about. 
Let's first get to grips with the terminology and distinguish what we're dealing with. Hybrid vehicles exist alongside fully electric vehicles (EVs), and while a full EV like the Volvo XC40 Recharge runs solely on electric power using electric motors, hybrid cars utilise a combination of electric power and an internal combustion engine, as is the case with the Volvo XC60 Recharge. During our time with the Volvo, we learned that the electric/ICE combination isn't as straightforward as one may assume, a considerable amount of engineering has gone into it and it's filtered through to the driving experience.
Volvo XC60 Recharge specs
Peering into the XC60 Recharge’s meaty bits you'll discover a 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine from Volvo, with 183 kW and 350 Nm. It’s linked to an electric system providing an additional boost, taking the total output to 340 kW and 709 Nm. A fuel gauge is displayed on the digital instrument panel, and above that is a battery power indicator which displays battery power in percentage. At 100% the XC60 Recharge has an electric range between 46 and 56km, enough to cover the average person's commute to work and back. The petrol range is around 750km, eliminating any range-related anxiety.
There are two methods of charging the Volvo. You can visit your nearest charging station - there are plenty across the country's major metros, hidden in shopping malls and car dealerships. You may not notice them because you aren't looking for them. GridCars is the largest distributor of EV charging stations in South Africa and you can locate the nearest one to you by clicking this link. We learned that not all hybrid and electric vehicles use the same charging system. A vehicle charges using AC or DC and the connections are different. The Volvo XC60 Recharge uses the AC (alternative current system) and after visiting two DC charging stations we realised that there's no guarantee that a charging station is equipped for both AC and DC charging, so use the link above to find compatible charging stations for your vehicle.
The second method of charging the vehicle's battery is by plugging it into your home's wall socket, as you would an electric appliance. This is useful for overnight charging when returning home from work. Charging through a 230V household plug is the slowest way to fill your battery up, and will take an entire night, whereas an AC charging station will charge the battery fully in around 2hrs. DC chargers are the Usain Bolts of charging stations and are said to do the same job in 20 minutes to 1 hour.
Alternatively, you can use the 2.0 litre engine as a generator to charge the battery cell by selecting Charge mode on the Volvo's large touch display screen. In this setting, the running engine charges the vehicle's battery while you drive, however, fuel consumption takes a hard knock.
Driving a hybrid
For the most part, driving the Volvo XC60 is an unusually silent experience, that induces a calming effect on the driver. The transition from electric to combustion is seamless and imperceptible. You'll only hear from the petrol engine on the odd occasion under hard acceleration, and as a last resort if the battery is depleted. The Volvo has a regenerative braking system, like other electric and hybrid vehicles of the same ilk. It allows you to harvest kinetic braking energy, which is converted into electric energy and stored in the battery. With this system, you can drive the vehicle with one pedal for acceleration and braking. The accelerator performs both functions and releasing it induces braking - the more it's released the more braking force is applied through the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). Driving using a single pedal feels intuitive and the adjustment is a lot easier than you may assume.
When you do the figures, recharging a vehicle with electricity costs half the amount of petrol refuelling, translating to considerable financial savings. The instant acceleration from an electrically propelled vehicle is something you do not get used to. It's a swift, adrenaline-spiking sensation that makes cars such as the Volvo XC60 Recharge an enticing proposition.
Volvo XC60 Recharge Price
Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Plus Dark
R 1 284 000
Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Plus Bright
R 1 310 000
Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Ultimate Dark
R 1 347 000
Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Ultimate Bright
R 1 349 000
Gugu Masuku – proudly CHANGECARS
