Living with an Electric car! | Volvo C40 (4K)

The world is very rapidly turning electric, with more and more electric cars hitting the market every week it is becoming apparent they are not going anywhere any time soon. But is this a bad thing? Is an EV really easy to live with? What about the charging network? Is owning an EV becoming easier than it ever has been?
We gave our resident petrol head Matt one of our favourite EV's, the Volvo C40 for 7 days to see if he could live with the car and change his mind on the potential future of EV only mobility.
For more information on any of the EV's we have on offer at Rybrook please use the link below and select the brand you are most interested in
www.sytner.co.uk
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[@Eadsn]

One important tip is to use the navigation in the car to navigate to the charging points. This ensures that the battery is preheating and you will get much faster charging and a much better experience

[@bobdrago6965]

As an EV owner, finally a rational EV review from a petrol person.

[@CaryInVictoria]

Two points: 1) speeding up and slowing down does not increase range; driving more slowly does. Driving at a constant speed requires less energy than does speeding up and slowing down whilst maintaining the same average speed. That's because regenerative braking entails energy losses. Note that on Volvo EVs regenerative braking occurs even when the brake pedal is depressed; whether friction brakes are also deployed depends on the desired rate of deceleration. Not all EV makers use this "blended braking" technology. 2) After gaining experience driving an EV one does not tend to monitor the state of charge or estimated distance remaining, for the same reason that most drivers of ICE cars are not fixated on the gas gauge.

[@vincentmeier]

Love this more than the fancy cars you also have. I think this is more for the general public… changing the mindset is a big part. Thanks for the short week test.

[@ricknelson947]

Great review and pretty fair. I ordered a 2023 C40 Ultimate in June for a September arrival. I installed one of those expensive 50Amp receptacles in my garage while I was waiting on my car to arrive. It was easy enough to install with an understanding of the local electrical codes. I set my charging rate in the car to 35 Amps (8,400Kw) with the option of using 48 Amps (11,520Kw) if I need a faster charge. My wife is a realtor and drives it every day, and no longer spends $150.00 every 10 days for gas. The best part is that I have not seen a significant increase in our electric bill. Possibly because my electric water heater failed and I replaced it with a hybrid type. To get over charge anxiety, we took a 400 mile road trip here in Florida using the charging locator app in the car. Like you experienced, finding a charging station is not so much of a problem as getting them to work when you get there. At a 350Kw station went from 40% to 90% in about 17 minutes. Starting charging at 145Kw and ended around 40Kw. Remember the max charge rate for the Volvo is 150Kw. Seems to be plenty fast enough for me.

[@leedorey1490]

I have one on order, I'm a consumate petrolhead but looking forward to my EV arriving.

[@stuartbland9865]

I've been driving an EV for 2.5 years now without any means of charging it at home (also in Shrewsbury). My car also has significantly less range than the C40 (180 miles on a very good day) and I have never experienced any kind of range anxiety. You just need to get into a different mind set where you a) plan journeys a little better (although not necessary with the Google integration on this car), and b) take every opportunity to "destination" charge. We did a 520 mile round trip to Cornwall and had no issues whatsoever, but with my less connected car I just made sure I had 2/3 alternative charging locations for each stop. Reliability of rapid chargers when you get off the beaten track is an issue though, as is the non-standard approach to them (some needing apps with credit loaded, some accepting contactless payment cards, others needing a specific nfc card of their own). There needs to be a more standardised approach (contactless for all). Also worth pointing out that Tesla are opening up their Superchargers at quieter locations for all EVs to use (although you will need a Tesla account to use them).

[@heartofcinema3454]

Ok so lets bring perspective. I park on my drive way and charge twice a week and keep my charge at 80% most of the time as we do a lot of local driving, so if I decide on a day to drive 100 miles it's no issue. Even then you will need to plan whenever you go on a special trip, charge full the night before. It's nothing to worry about, just a different way of driving. After a few months you will adapt. I am sure that's how people felt when they first started to keep their files saved on a desktop at home 30 years ago.

[@guttagutta420]

I agree. I installed a level 2 charger in my garage and charged maybe once a month. It really holds its charge well for running errands around town or sitting for 4 or so days in my garage. My tesla had phantom drain and would lose about 10 or so percent just sitting for 4 days. My ice car says 299 miles on a full tank so it’s not a huge deal imo

[@iantelinside]

A lot of pre-EV folks have the mindset that you're gonna waste tike sitting around for the car to charge, but it's just like your phone. Nobody stares at their phone charging. You do something else while it charges. I.e. you charge the car overnight while you sleep or if you need to, at a mall while you shop or dine. It's way more convenient than having to drive to a petrol station, not to mention the gasoline fumes you have to inhale there.

[@norbertmayer7005]

I’ve got a public destination charger 5 minute walk from home and from work. No biggy. Once a week I’d need it.

[@miro_o]

I really like how you showed how you’re thinking and adapting to the new way of using a car changed with the week. It sounds as though the charging hurdle could’ve all been avoided if you had listened to the car and charged when it recommended. FYI we also have no charging at home for our Volvo C40. Electric cars have a learning curve and trying to run them the way you’re used to run an IC car just won’t work. IC cars come with their own sets of constraints but they have been set as the norm so of course an electric car won’t fit it. It’s great that you’ve given it a go :) thanks for the video.

[@sukruyildizel422]

what is your averange range when you have the full battery? Could we say 250 Miles or so ?

[@miro_o]

@@sukruyildizel422 when we’re only driving in the city, I’d say we get close to the 400km. I’d say 350-400km while not limiting air conditioning or trying to drive particularly efficiently. I can be an aggressive driver at times especially when running late which unfortunately is quite frequent. Highway driving we used to get around 250km cruising around 155kmh through Germany on 100% of the battery but we never charge to 100%. Usually we stop every 2:00-2:15h to charge for 15-25 minutes. It’s usually dictated more by the charger locations than our range.

[@sukruyildizel422]

@@miro_o Thank you for the detailed answer. What caused a curiosity for me is you said around 400 km in city but 250 km in motorways. Normaly petrol cars use less fuel on motorway but is it the opposite with the electric vehicles? Thank you.

[@miro_o]

@@sukruyildizel422 exactly. That’s the peculiarity. The following is oversimplified so if anyone wants to jump in with actual physics please do: In theory if you drove an IC car at a city limit speed cruising, it would have a better consumption than cruising on the highway because you need less energy to maintain a lower speed than a higher speed due to factors like wind resistance. This is true for electric cars too. However, IC cars use much more energy fuel to accelerate than electric cars do. You can see how high your engine rpm goes compared to when cruising and constantly changing and not running at its most efficient rpm. This results in the high consumption in the city for IC cars. Electric cars (for the sake of simplicity of the argument) run on similar efficiency at whatever rate the motor spins and on top of that there is no gearbox on most electric cars. It’s like running the car engine always at its most efficient rpm, so the energy use is much more proportional to the speed. Please keep in mind that this is overly simplified and if anyone wants to correct me on my analogies please do.

[@sukruyildizel422]

@@miro_o Thanks for the answer. Overall are you happy with your C40 and would you recommend it? I am not planning to commute I will use it only for travel and daily mundane works.

[@keithronson2624]

Matt, late to the 'comments'. Apologies! As always excellent content and a 'real' one at that. Living with an electric car, all be it one of the best currently on the market the Volvo C4. What comes across is the lack of infa-structure and investment in terms of chargers. Think 'up't north' and it gets worse! When compared with the likes of Norway, Sweden and Belgium we are so far behind in terms of charging points etc. Hence your 'experience' of range anxiety. [Well disguised by the way!] ''Interesting''. Add to that the technology advances that are to come. Different vehicle manufacturers doing their 'own thing'...yes Tesla ...You! And the differing chargers and the like. You also highlighted the challenges of home charging. I live in a flat with shared parking. No chance! As below it will be interesting for you to continue the series [perhaps in a Mini Cooper e...yes please! ... As in daily life, commute and weekends. And the supermarket trips! Plus Apps and the reliability of charging points. Thanks again. Another well thought out review.

[@Wyatt333]

This entire video is about charging stations in his home area and charging an ev… just a few brief flashes where he speaks about the actual car.

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

Indeed me myself and I. Its disappointing to not get exited about EV.

[@cub35guy]

not just you. i look at the range and percentage all the time. i have this model. i love the C40. probably one of the top 5 ev's on the market. it's just about perfect.

[@glowwurm9365]

I’ll be picking up my C40 tomorrow, but I’m personally not concerned, my longest commute is a 100 mile round trip to work which I do maybe once possible twice a week. Now we will as a family go on longer trips, but given that I’ve got a dog and two kids I can’t envisage ever driving for more than two hours without a break for food, toilet etc. And a rapid charger taking me to 80% in 30 minutes is fine. I have the luxury of a drive so that’s an obvious advantage over some. But I guess as the presenter sums up, for many this works, but I appreciate for others it won’t, but as the network improves it will become more viable in the future. I’m personally looking forward to the £1300/1400 savings I’ll be making on fuel alone YoY, it should provide me with the money to install solar down the line.

[@bogiesan]

Anticipating the rest of the series. Thanks. You're driving my (soon to be delivered) car!

[@SBKPete]

Ordered mine in March. Should be delivered early December 🤦🏻 How long have you been waiting David?

[@bogiesan]

@@SBKPete Boise, Idaho, dealer has been allocated 2, 10-car shipments arriving 12-22 and 04-23. My unit should be in the first. Ordered about three days after IRA passed in the USA so missed the cutoff.

[@RomanticTuna]

This is really interesting, because I get this car in a few months as my daily driver on a company car scheme. So both the good and bad are important to me. The biggest problem in the area I live is there is almost zero charging infrastructure and what they do have is often broken.

[@SBKPete]

I’ve had my C40 single motor, Recharge Plus (company car), for nearly 4 months now; and now the weather is getting better here in the UK, I’m getting 280 miles from a single charge. You won’t be disappointed BTW. Enjoy 😊

[@elmo319]

The anxiety comes about because of the availability of charging points, once that’s sorted….

[@vitalyromas6752]

8:50 "A bit of a blind corner", it would be great if you could use and show the front wide-angle camera of C40. Sure if if this trim has the option. This option is badly explained and pretty missed to be well presented by Volvo as well as by bloggers. Although this option may be one of the key points for a choice decision.

[@tocor71]

Thanks.... from Portugal

[@StigSalming]

Thanks for the great video. I’ve been driving my C40 here in Canada for five months now and love it. I agree with your comments.

[@bosternou96]

How are you finding the low headroom at the back?

[@StigSalming]

Not as bad as the reviews suggested. But for those over 6 1’ it may get a little tight on a longer ride.

[@heartofcinema3454]

Also you should not let the battery drop less than 20%. Like you don't drive on an almost empty petrol engine. When my petrol tells me I have 40 miles left, I normally fill up asap.

[@mc.9-]

why not mention that this car (in fact all EVs) come with a slow charger which can be plugged in almost anywhere?

[@Bjaardker]

People really don't understand this. I don't have any special charger at my house & just plugging into a regular outlet I'm getting ~20% of a charge every night. For normal day to day driving that's more than enough range and it keeps me between 70-90% all of the time.

[@serinahadjadj4661]

Cool aztec 😏

[@hereigoagain5050]

I'm an anxious guy but don't have range anxiety in my C40 cause I trust the tech. I have dealership anxiety when they quote $800 for a new key fob. Bloody b*srtds!

[@heartofcinema3454]

That is a very pricey car, just to get that harmon kardon sound system you have to go to a 56k car.

[@guttagutta420]

Honestly all evs are pricey…any worth their weight in salt anyway. Sure you can get a nissan leaf or chevy bolt but ewwww

[@heartofcinema3454]

@@guttagutta420 my audi q4 sport back cost me 45k, with the Sonos speakers. It's the 55kw battery though, which is the smallest and probably not offered now. I know q4s now start at 51k

[@guttagutta420]

@@heartofcinema3454 Yea I was looking at one a few weeks ago and it was $62 with all the options I wanted. Honestly though until all these manufacturers can bring the price down on these evs they won’t be adopted widely. Cheapest ones I know of as of now is as I mentioned, bolt & leaf and also the id.4, mini cooper, mazda & surprisingly, the model 3 base. However, the mini cooper only has 100 mile range and the mazda is only available in cali as far as I knowz

[@kimnott7530]

A quite a bit long winded as you keep repeating yourself ! Feel that if I’m going to change my present vehicle I think The Tesla is the one to go for !

[@hungryboy424]

Nice looking motor, but still prefer diesel !

[@JM20562]

Can u tell me where u went pls 😂

[@denisevermeulen4984]

He did

[@enriqueali]

It's "rather interesting"? More like nerve-wracking or stress-inducing!

[@asw2005]

Volvo is a scam! My 2023 Volvo has a steering wheel that vibrates very badly, making it quite annoying and UNSAFE to drive, and Volvo doesn’t want to fix it.

[@snorkelgutt]

What did Volvo say, was the vibration caused by all season tires maybe? Here in Norway people complain about those Michelin all season tires, only used as summer tires.

[@luchunbeausamnang3362]

U talk to much for nothing😂😂😂

[@SytnerTV]

Thank you, appreciate the comment 😜

[@anglosaxonmike8325]

So basically Volvo took the petrol body shell, and converted it to battery. The charging socket is where the old petrol filler used to be, and the transmission tunnel is still there in the way of rear seat passengers. What a bloody scam. And what an ugly lump.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

The CMA platform is built for ICE, hybrids and BEVs. Yes, it's a compromise but at least it allowed Volvo to get out a BEV car until it had its SPA2 platform ready. The new EX90 will be ground-up BEV but Volvo won't get any to customers before 2024. So, should Volvo wait until 2024 to have any BEV out or use the CMA platform? It's not a scam. It's a business decision that makes sense IMO. Polestar 2 is also built on the CMA platform.

[@GSP-76]

I just got my C40 Recharge yesterday and I absolutely love it. Fantastic vehicle and the experience is equally as good.