Volvo has freed up more range from its XC40 Recharge Pure Electric with an over-the-air update.
The brand says a wireless update to the electric SUV brings smarter battery management and regenerative braking, which helps the XC40 go further on a charge in the real world. Volvo hasn’t released an updated range figure, however.
The XC40 Recharge has a claimed 418km range from its 78kWh battery pack. The update will also be rolled out to the C40 SUV, and the related Polestar 2.
A new Range Assistant app has also been released in Beta for the Volvo and Polestar electric range. It’s designed to help drivers extract more range from their cars with driving style tips and climate control changes.
There’s more detail about how cold climates impact range built into the updated infotainment, and refinements to the active safety systems.
Volvo is debuting its new Android Automotive software on the XC40 Recharge, which has greater support for remote updates than its old Sensus system. The new Google-driven software will be rolled out across its range, and already features in the Polestar 2.
The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric has touched down in Australia, although anyone keen to get their hands on one will have to wait.
Deliveries of the 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric have officially started – and every vehicle coming Down Under has already been spoken for.
That means buyers who place an order today for the all-electric crossover will be waiting until February 2022 for their vehicle to arrive.
A Volvo spokesperson told CarExpert the number of vehicles in the first shipment is in the “hundreds”.
The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is targeted at the Tesla Model 3 Long Range and Mercedes-Benz EQA 250, and is priced from $76,990 before on-road costs.
Just one well-specced model will be offered, with 300kW of power and 660Nm of torque from its dual-motor all-wheel drive system.
Polestar is also gearing up to launch in Australia. The Polestar 2 will go on sale during January 2022, with prices starting at $59,900 before on-road costs and extending to $69,900 before on-roads.
It’ll be followed by the Volvo C40 Recharge, a more rakish electric SUV due to arrive in Australia before the end of 2022.
The all-electric trio will go head-to-head with the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Mercedes-Benz EQA in Australia.
MORE: Everything Volvo XC40
