Volvo's first EV could change the way you interact with your car

Friday, 18 October 2019

Volvo's first electric vehicle might look like an ordinary XC40 with a blanked-off grille, but there is a lot more going on underneath.

Volvo's new all-electric version of its small XC40 SUV - the XC40 Recharge - includes a number of firsts, but potentially the most significant one isn't anything to do with it being an EV.

The XC40 Recharge is the first of what the company says will be a family of fully electric Volvos and, aside from being the company's first electric car, it is also the first Volvo with a brand new infotainment system powered by Google's Android operating system, which has wide potential to change how we interact with our cars.

Over the next five years, Volvo Cars says it will launch a fully electric car every year, as it seeks to make all-electric cars 50 per cent of its global sales by 2025, with the remained being hybrids. The 'Recharge' handle will be the 'overarching name' for all Volvos with a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge will have a range of around 400km and can recharge to 80 per cent in 40 minutes on a fast charger.

'We have said this several times before: for Volvo Cars, the future is electric,' said Hakan Samuelsson, chief executive. 'Today we take a major new step in that direction with the launch of our fully electric XC40 and the Recharge car line.'

**READ MORE:

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Volvo says the XC40 Recharge has a range of more than 400km (WLTP) on a single charge and output of 304kW. The battery charges to 80 per cent of its capacity in 40 mins on a fast-charger system.

'Already one of our most popular models since it's arrival here, the much anticipated electrification of the XC40 will add an exciting new dimension to the Volvo lineup,' said Coby Duggan, Volvo NZ general manager.

New Zealand launch timing and pricing for the XC40 Recharge are yet to be confirmed.

Volvo has ditched its own infotainment operating system in favour of Google's Android Automotive system.

While the XC40 Recharge features a number of interesting innovations - including enclosing the battery in an aluminium 'safety cage' that creates a built-in crumple zone around the battery - its biggest disturbance to the status quo actually comes in the form of its infotainment system.

Volvo is the first company to team up with Google on integrating an infotainment system powered by Android, with Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Google Play Store built-in.

The new system offers the first (well, technically second - Volvo spin-off brand Polestar was technically first) full integration of Android Automotive OS, Google's open-source Android platform, offering real-time updates to services such as Google Maps, Google Assistant and automotive apps created by the global developer community.

The XC40 Recharge is also the first Volvo that will receive software and operating system updates over the air, similar to how Tesla does it.

'We are finally giving you the same experience in your car that you're used to on your phone, but adapted for safe interaction while driving,' said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Cars.

'And by introducing over-the-air updates for everything from maintenance to completely new features, the car can stay as fresh as your other digital products, always with the latest and greatest features.'

Unlike Android Auto or Apple CarPlay which require your phone to be connected to the car, mirroring its services in a simplified format on your car's screens, Android Automotive OS is exactly that; an entire operating system for the infotainment system that functions without needing a phone connected.

The system will also allow standard Android Auto operation when you do connect an Android phone, and even offers Apple CarPlay for iPhone users.

The operating system integrates entirely with Volvo's systems, meaning that voice control will be via Google Assistant - which will also allow drivers to interact with smart-home devices from their car - and Google Maps interacts with Volvo's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by providing refreshed map and traffic data in real-time, keeping drivers informed about upcoming traffic situations and proactively suggesting alternative routes, as well as suggesting the nearest charging station en route.

The decision to ditch its own infotainment operating system entirely wasn't actually a terribly hard one to make, according to Green, who told US website The Verge 'honestly speech functions in cars typically suck today. It's really not a nice experience.'

'I just came to the conclusion that there is no chance on earth that a car company, with the volume we have, with the power we have, would compete on probably one of the biggest battles going on in tech today,' he told The Verge at the reveal of the XC40 Recharge.

'Why should the car industry be there, up against the Amazons and the Googles and the Apples, on who's going to build the best assistant in the world? It's crazy.'

The Android operating system also integrates with Volvo's remote app, allowing the driver to use their phone as a key, as well as remotely adjust car settings like the pre-conditioning function, as well as leaving the door open for future updates and new features from Volvo and its development partners.

Android Automotive OS will roll out over a number of other manufacturers soon as well, as General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and the Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi alliance have all climbed aboard the Google train.