Claire’s XC40 Recharge echoes the philosophy of an eco-house
HOMES BUILT TO Passivhaus principles (like the one above) incorporate details such as triple glazing, solar panels and recycled newspaper insulation to reduce their environmental impact. And in much the same way, my fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge helped me take a big leap towards living a more eco-friendly life.
For example, a lot of its interior is made from recycled PET plastic. And while running on electricity didn’t make it completely clean (the car’s exact impact on the environment depends on where you charge and how that energy is produced in the first place), it did mean I wasn’t contributing to local air pollution.
I didn’t have to sacrifice any fun or comfort to go greener, though. Indeed, one of the things I loved about my XC40 was its acceleration. With two electric motors producing a combined 402bhp and sending that power to all four wheels, the car could sprint from 0-62mph in a mere 4.6sec. Don’t get me wrong; I didn’t take it drag racing. But it was great to have that performance available when I found myself needing a burst of speed.