Volvo is offering UK buyers of its plug-in hybrid models a year’s worth of free electricity, in a bid to encourage them to use their cars as efficiently as possible.
The Take Charge offer, which was revealed at the unveiling of the XC40 Recharge EV last month, will be available to any UK buyer of one of the firm's seven plug-in hybrid models between now and 30 June 2020.
Volvo now offers an electrified version of every car in its line-up, with plug-in hybrid versions of the XC40, XC60, XC90 SUVs, the V60 and V90 estates and the S60 and S90 saloons. All those models will now carry the new Recharge badge for electrified machines.
The firm will record the total level of charge put into it over the course of a year using the Volvo On Call app, with Volvo then giving the customer a rebate based on the average price of electricity.
Björn Annwall, Volvo’s commercial boss, said the scheme was designed to showcase that plug-in hybrids can be a sustainable stepping stone or alternative to full electric cars, and to fight the belief that many are bought for tax incentives and rarely plugged in to charge.
“Plug-in hybrids can be very efficient if they are used in the right way,” said Annwall. “But if you just buy them for tax reasons and leave the cables in the boot, it’s just a waste.
“We wanted to make consumers more aware of the benefits, and this was something we could do to help all plug-in hybrid buyers. We think incentives can help, because they can put a spotlight on efficient energy usage.
“The first year with a new car is when you set your habits with it, so if we put incentives then it will really make people think about how they use their cars, and show how they can change.”
While Volvo's plug-in hybrid models have previously carried Twin Engine branding, that will be phased out in favour of the new Recharge label, which will also be used for full-electric cars such as the new XC40 Recharge.
Volvo is aiming for plug-in hybrid cars to account for 20% of its sales next year. This is a key part of a major push towards electrification and reducing its average carbon emissions. The firm is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2040.
Read more
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Volvo XC40 Recharge launched as firm's first full electric car
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Some really stupid comments
Sad to see Volvo deemed cynical when a well intentioned, effective campaign which also brings multiple benefits to the society is bashed.
Baaa!!!baaa!!!
This Sheep mentality, why not just knock a grand off?, yes, Volvo like to be seen as the leaders in safety and all that, but this jingoistic statement about a years free Leccy is too transparent......
Creatures of habit
People are creatures of habit, and if this offer gets them into the habit of plugging the car in, because they'll get a refund, then that is a good thing.
And people will fall for it.
Creatures of habit indeed but the flaw in Volvo's argument is the habit of 'free' electricity only lasts 12mths.
It's a discount... same as other offering free insurance, free VAT, free servicing etc. It's just another cynical attempt to convince us that buying a brand new car is eco-friendly. It's designed to please the Volvo accountants more that Joe Public.
Not much really, about a 0.8%
Take a unit at say 11p, a car with a 13.5kw battery never flat so only takes on 12 kWh, done every day for a year so times 365 give a best case rebate of about £450..off a £50k car. Nice gesture sure, but 3 years would be a more serious intent.
The Apprentice wrote:
Plug ins seem to benefit CoCar drivers the most, and those i know can plug in at work if they can be bothered, but not at home, so this will actually give them free money assuming the rebate goes to them, not their employer or lease company. But once the free money runs out i suspect they will be less bothered