Our cars


Electric cars and motorways DO mix


Are long-distance drives a nightmare with an EV? We take the electric EC40 on some long motorway stints.


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.


Richard Bush


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 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


Volvo EC40 Ultra, Single Motor Extended Range


P11D £58,300 Price as tested £58,355 Official WLTP Range 341 miles Test consumption 3.3 miles/kWh WLTP Combined Range 276 miles per kWhr/ 221 miles 80% charge Mileage 2,193 miles


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 scold 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.


Why we’re running it


To see if Volvo’s all-electric crossover can handle a growing family of four.


www.businesscar.co.uk | March/April 2025 | 47


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