Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
Different Type Of Electric Vehicles (EVs): The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For Ireland
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How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car At Home: The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For Ireland
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The Volvo V90 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid Estate
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):
- All-electric Volvo C40 Recharge (BEV)
- All-electric Volvo EX90 (BEV)
- All-electric Volvo EX30 (BEV)
- All-electric Volvo ES90 (BEV)
- All-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge (BEV)
- Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Volvo XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Volvo S60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Volvo S90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Volvo V90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
The Volvo V90 conventional petrol and diesel variant has been available since 2016. It made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016. The conventional V90 received a facelift in early 2020. As with other Volvo models, the company has also introduced the V90 as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
The updated Volvo V90 Recharge PHEV has much to offer families and company-car drivers seeking a practical and spacious electric vehicle (EV). The upgrade of the onboard EV battery to 18.8 kWh has positioned this estate electric car, as one of the few EVs capable of delivering a real-world emission-free electric range close to 80 km.
Volvo claims a pure electric range up to 86 km (WLTP certified), however, the real-world EV range will be closer to 75 km. Nevertheless, it is an impressive and certainly very useful EV range to reduce the cost of motoring. Do keep in mind that driving an electric car is far cheaper than driving a conventional petrol or engine car.
A plug-in hybrid driven on zero-emission e-mode can cost as little as 5 cents to 10 cents per km. There are real financial savings to be gained in electric driving. The EV also benefits from regenerative braking to improve range and efficiency.
Moreover, using the electric mode, also improves the overall efficiency of the electric vehicle. Volvo claims a fuel economy up to 1 l/100 km for the estate PHEV. Of course, the real-world fuel economy will be less efficient, but far improved compared to the fuel economy of the petrol variant.
Despite the updates, it is disappointing to note that the PHEV does not offer DC charging. The EV has a 3.6 kW onboard charger. 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 160,000 km warranty.
Despite the placement of the onboard EV battery, practicality has not been compromised, in comparison to the conventional petrol variant. The V90 plug-in offers a 551 L boot and ample space for passengers. The interior has been finished to a high standard and offers leather free upholstery and recycled carpets. It 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.
Also improved are the tailpipe emissions for the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The V90 PHEV has tailpipe emission up to 20g CO2/km, benefiting the local air quality. The conventional petrol variant has tailpipe emissions up to 158g CO2/km. Moreover, company-car drivers can also take advantage of this practical environmentally-friendly PHEV given the lower emissions.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Very useful zero-emission electric range | DC charging capability not available |
| Interior quality and cabin space good | Onboard charger limited to 3.6 kW |
| Good performance and refined drive | Only available in T6 powertrain |
Gallery
The Volvo V90 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid Estate (credit: Volvo)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | Estate |
| Engine: | Petrol/ Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | No |
| Variants (2 Options) |
|---|
| Volvo V90 Recharge Plus (From € N/A) |
| Volvo V90 Recharge Ultimate (from € N/A) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 18.8 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger: 3.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 5 hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 20g – 19g (CO2/km) |
| Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 12.4 kWh | € 4.25 |
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 5.73 |
| Battery net capacity: 26.6 kWh | € 9.12 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 10.29 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 13.44 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 15.43 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 17.15 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 21.95 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 24.35 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 26.40 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 30.86 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 34.29 |
| Battery net capacity: 112.0 kWh | € 38.40 |
| Battery net capacity: 120.0 kWh | € 41.15 |
| Battery net capacity: 130.0 kWh | € 44.58 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 34.29 cents/kWh. Best to charge an EV overnight when the rates are the lowest.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW – 350 kW): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger DC (120 kW – 350 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1478 |
| Width (mm): | 1895 |
| Length (mm): | 4945 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2941 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.4 |
| Boot Space (L): | 551 |
| Volvo V90 T6 AWD plug-in hybrid | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 18.8 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 86 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption: | 18 kWh/100 km |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 0.8 – 1.0 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger: 3.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 5 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 180 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.6 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | N/A |
| Horsepower (hp): | 350 |
| Torque (Nm): | 350 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (kg): | 2,610 |
| Colours: | 8 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Solar And EV Charging: An Overview
The benefits of renewable energy, in particular, solar and wind energy, is already well established across Europe, and in other parts of the world. With the increase in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) over the past three years, the advantages of using clean and renewable energy has been further enhanced.
Firstly, on-site renewable energy can be used for powering both business premises and homes. For on-site generation, we have witnessed a significant increase in distributed clean energy generating plants i.e. many commercial buildings and residential buildings have become generators i.e. generating electricity on-site! Solar roof projects have been popular for such on-site generation installations.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has further amplified the need to develop energy security, not only at a national level, but also at a local level, to include, businesses and households. Those households and businesses that already generate and consume clean energy on-site have been spared the significant onslaught of energy price rise in 2022, which is expected to continue in 2023.
Installing solar panels on-site, mitigates the risks associated with energy price inflation, a significant contributor to costs for a business or a household. On-site renewable energy generation also impacts the environment positively. For those with electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, pure electric vehicles, we strongly encourage the use of renewable energy for EV charging. Of course, we also encourage the use of solar energy for charging a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Apart from the significant cost benefit i.e. generating renewable energy is a nominal cost per kWh (after initial set-up/ installation costs), to achieve true zero-tailpipe emission electric driving, renewable energy needs to be used for EV charging. This is also known as ‘well-to-wheel’. Just one electric car on the road can save an average of 1.5 million grams of CO2.
The good news for electric car owners is that a number of EV charging stations are now compatible with solar/ wind generation and battery storage. The UK manufacturer myenergi zappi is a good example of a solar/ wind compatible EV charger.
We encourage business and households to adopt an on-site ecosystem of ‘renewable energy-battery storage-EV charging’, to gain the maximum from the advantages of low carbon generation and zero-emission electric driving. Bottom-line, renewable energy is good for the environment and the wallet!
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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