Volvo ‘free electricity’ offer for plug-in hybrids extended

Volvo Car UK has extended its Take Charge electricity offer, which reimburses new plug-in hybrid drivers the cost of charging their car for a year.

The offer applies to every plug-in hybrid model in the Volvo range, from the XC40 premium compact SUV to the XC90.

The campaign was originally launched in November 2019, and automatically applied to all plug-in hybrid Volvos purchased until June 30, 2020.

It has now been extended to benefit customers buying a new plug-in hybrid Volvo until September 30, this year.

Volvo’s aim is to encourage drivers to make full use of their car’s electric power, by plugging in their car as often as possible to ensure the hybrid system’s battery is kept charged.

Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK managing director, said: “Sustainability is crucial at Volvo, and that involves helping everyone to do what they can to drive in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

“The extension of our Take Charge offer allows us to cover a year’s electricity charging costs for even more plug-in hybrid customers, helping them make the most of their new car’s electric potential, and saving them money along the way.”

The electricity costs for charging the car will be calculated from June 2020 and repaid to customers at the end of the 12-month period, based on a third-party-provided average cost of electricity in the UK.

How much electricity each customer uses will be monitored via the Volvo On Call app, which also allows the driver to monitor the charge status of the car’s battery via their mobile device.

The offer is open to both private and business customers. Since Volvo’s intention is to encourage drivers to get into the habit of regularly plugging in their car to keep its hybrid battery charged, it is the company car driver who will receive the refund at the end of the year as opposed to their employer.

The Volvo offer comes as leasing companies report a surge in interest in electric vehicles (EVs), thanks to generous benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rates for plug-in company cars. 

Jon Lawes, managing director of Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, told Fleet News: “Many customers are looking to either partially or fully electrify their fleet. This is being driven by the desirability of longerrange models coming to market and the enhanced tax position over other drivetrains.”

Read more in the June digital edition of Fleet News. 

The newest addition to Volvo’s plug-in hybrid range is the XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid. Combining a 180hp petrol engine with an 82hp electric motor, it offers CO2 emissions from 47g/km and official fuel economy of up to 134.5mpg (WLTP Combined cycle).

Its high-voltage battery also allows it to travel up to 27 miles on electric power alone, making it possible to complete many journeys without using a drop of petrol.

The reimbursed electricity offer is just part of Volvo’s wide-ranging plans to reduce the lifecycle carbon footprint of all its new cars by 40% by 2025.

The introduction of electrified powertrains – including full battery electric in the recently announced XC40 Recharge Pure Electric – will help Volvo bring down the overall tailpipe emissions of its cars by 50% by 2025.

Other short-term ambitions include a 25% reduction of CO2 emissions related to its global supply chain by 2025, and a 25% reduction of carbon emissions generated by the company’s overall operations, including car production and logistics. These targets all go towards Volvo’s goal of becoming a climate-neutral business by 2040.