2nd Report: Electric cars and motorways DO mix
Yes, I am still a Volvo fanboy, and I’m still enjoying my time with the all-electric EC40.
Even when jumping behind the wheel because I’m late for one of the kids’ swimming lessons, or I’m darting out the door at 1am because we need Calpol – yes, 1am – I’m still loving the little lifestyle embellishments the Volvo allows me. I’m becoming a bit of a Volvo snob to be honest, and I actually don’t care.
The last month has been jam-packed with medium-to-long motorway journeys that have put the EC40’s EV credentials to the test. The three weeks of heavy snow was an interesting test, too.
Right off the bat I’ll say that the overall driving experience has been easy, comfortable and enjoyable. While there may be a slight whiff of crossover SUV impracticality at times with the EC40, this merely requires some creative problem solving, rather than snap decisions on whether you need to leave a pram, bag or child behind.
Practicality aside, the EC40 is smooth and quiet off the mark, relaxed at high speeds, and easy to twist around a country road. The reliable heated seats – that stay hot – have been a great addition in the cold weather too. As has the heated steering wheel, which when you crank it all the way up, might literally scald your hands.
I’ve come to really appreciate the intuitiveness of the adaptive cruise control too, which effortlessly slows and accelerates accordingly when a car pulls into your lane on the motorway. The “Ready to drive” notification has come in handy too, nudging you when an idle car in front edges forward.
A solid infotainment system should not be sniffed at – and it’s part of what makes the EC40 so easy to jump in and go.
Technically, you need to plug your Android phone in via a cable to reap the full benefits of the Android Auto system. From my experience, this predominantly affects your Google Maps and how they integrate and allow you to get about. But with Google Maps being built-into the EC40’s infotainment system, I’ve found that a simple Bluetooth connection with my phone gives me all the connectivity I need – calls and music being the big two. In other words, I use my Android phone without the wire just fine.
The EC40’s system also has a YouTube app, which can be enjoyed when killing time in the supermarket car park.
In terms of real-world electric range, my average long-ish motorway journeys over the past month have been about two hours, or 120 miles. From a full charge, I’ve been averaging around 40% battery capacity upon arrival. Some quick maths will tell you that that equates to around 250 miles of range – but of course this can fluctuate based on weather, road conditions and driving habits.
That kind of range isn’t huge, but it’s enough to get me to each pit stop on long drives. Day-to-day, I certainly haven’t felt like I’m plugging in the EC40 every five minutes, or found myself paranoid about range. Even when the battery is sitting at around 25-30% capacity, I still feel in control and well aware of how far I can drive, with the miles-left read out on the dash being pretty spot on.
I’ve been continuing to plan my charging stops mostly via fast food restaurants and coffee stops – with McDonald’s and Starbucks having an impressive network of Instavolt and Ionity chargers respectively. Of course, you can always hit up motorway service stations too, with many up and down the country having an extensive collection of rapid chargers, usually with ample availability.
To be honest, you can probably get away with not planning charging stops with today’s network. If you’re anywhere near a coffee shop, fast food restaurant, hotel or motorway services – which you probably will be – then a charger won’t be far away.
| Model | Volvo EC40 Ultra Single Motor Extended Range |
| P11D price | £58,300 |
| As tested | £58,300 |
| Official WLTP range | 341 miles |
| Our average consumption | TBC |
| Mileage | 2,193 |
1st Report: An electric Volvo for Christmas? Yes please!
It’s such a cliche, but there really is something special about driving a Volvo. The brand exudes opulence, without being ostentatious. It says look at me, without saying look at me. If a Volvo pulls up next to a Mercedes or BMW at the traffic lights, people won’t be comparing horsepower, tech or alloy wheels – because that’s not what you’re buying with a Volvo.
You’re buying brand prestige and exclusivity – because let’s be honest, there’s lots of German car brands, but not many Swedish ones. And that’s why Volvo can get away with putting those tiny Swedish flags on its seats.
That’s not to say Volvos are the last word in luxury or astronomically priced for that matter. In fact, I’d bet that those same German cars you roll up next to at the traffic lights are, like-for-like, pricier than whatever Volvo you’re driving.
Choosing a Volvo over the regular crowd shows people that you’ve made an active decision to not conform. And that’s cool.
I recently wrote about how I feel plug-in hybrids are a little niche in the current new car market. Even brand-new plug-ins feel somewhat antiquated, unless you’re a specific type of buyer, with a very specific daily commute. Driving the Volvo EC40 has made me double down on this.
The driving characteristics of EVs make them naturally lean more towards luxury. They are smooth, quiet, refined and quick. Combine those attributes with the allure of a certain Swedish brand, and there really is no reason why you wouldn’t want to drive a Volvo EV.
And that brings me to my current set of wheels, the Volvo EC40. It’s always interesting getting a car around a busy time of the year, as you spend less time sitting on the driveway and playing around with buttons, and more time jumping in and out of it and throwing it in the deep end. Annoying niggles tend to rear their head very quickly in this arena.
So far, however, the EC40 handled everything the busy Christmas period has demanded of it. Hectic shopping trips, wintery walks, prams, bikes, dogs. Neither of these has been an issue. And the cold December weather has been a moot point too, with electric range unperturbed by its bite.
Aside from impressive cold weather performance, range anxiety isn’t a hurdle for me anymore. Electric cars – and the UK’s charging network – have come an incredibly long way in a short period of time.
In the Single Motor Extended Range EC40 for example, you’re looking at an official WLTP range of 341 miles – which will, realistically, get you around 250-300 miles. That’s enough to get me pretty much anywhere I need to go – and I actually find myself looking forward to my mid-journey, 30-minute coffee stop recharge.
Although I haven’t been driving the EC40 for very long, there has already been a few small things that, from a family perspective, have earned it huge brownie points. Our pram fits in the boot sideways, there’s heated seats in the front and rear, the touchscreen has a large portrait layout, the reversing camera is high quality and the infotainment system has Google Maps built-in.
I am looking forward to plenty of long-distance drives in the EC40 this year.
| Model | Volvo EC40 Ultra Single Motor Extended Range |
| P11D price | £58,300 |
| As tested | £58,300 |
| Official WLTP range | 341 miles |
| Our average consumption | TBC |
| Mileage | 1,024 |
Standard equipment: 9in centre console touchscreen with voice-activated control, Google Automotive Services, wireless mobile phone charging, city safety with steering support, automatic LED headlights with active high beam, rear parking sensors, rear parking camera, heated front seats, cruise control and intelligent speed assistance, two-zone climate control.
