2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid Drive modes
Regenerative braking
- The car recovers kinetic energy during braking in order to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
- The function is available in all drive modes together with gear position D or B.
Activating brake regeneration
- Depress the brake pedal.
- The car brakes and regenerates energy.
- Regeneration increases during engine braking when manual gearshift mode B is selected.
Battery usage
Control the battery’s State of Charge (SoC) while driving using Hold and Charge.
Hold and Charge are available in all drive modes. The functions are canceled if Pure drive mode is activated.
When Hold is activated, the charge in the hybrid battery is maintained and can instead be used at a later time, e.g. when driving in city traffic.
The car works as for normal hybrid operation with the discharged battery where, in addition to re-using brake-generated energy, for example, the car starts the internal combustion engine more often in order to maintain the charge in the battery.
When Charge is activated, the hybrid battery is charged using the internal combustion engine in order to obtain increased electric drive at a later time.
Activating Hold or Charge
Activate via the centre display.
- Press
. - Select Driving.
- Activate the function you require beside Battery usage.
In Hybrid drive mode, with battery usage set to Auto, smart energy distribution can be used by using Google Maps in order to drive the car as energy efficiently as possible for the whole mileage.
Creep mode
- Creep mode can facilitate progress at low speed, e.g. in traffic queues or in car parks.
- When the function is active the car will move slowly in the selected travel direction without the accelerator pedal being used.
Activating or deactivating creep mode
- Press in the centre display.
- Select Driving.
- Deactivate One Pedal Drive.
- Creep mode is now activated.
Note
If creep mode is activated when stationary, one press of the accelerator pedal is required for the function to work.
Drive modes
Adapt the drive mode according to the situation the car is being driven in.
Selectable drive modes
Five drive modes can be selected: Hybrid, Pure, Power(The Power mode is also available in the Polestar version), Constant AWD(Option/accessory) and Off-road.
The different drive modes are adapted to provide as good driving characteristics as possible in terms of the following:
- steering
- engine/gearbox/all-wheel drive
- brakes
- level control(Option/accessory) and shock absorption
- driver display
- climate settings.
Warning
Do not leave the car in an unventilated area with activated drive mode and the fuel-driven engine switched off – automatic engine start occurs at low energy level in the hybrid battery, and the exhaust gases could then cause serious injury to people and animals.
Indication in the driver display
The driver display indicates the drive mode selected.
Hybrid
- When the car starts, it is in the Hybrid mode. The electric motor and internal combustion engine are used, individually or in parallel, and their use is adapted with regard to performance, fuel consumption and comfort. The capacity to run solely with the electric motor depends on the hybrid battery’s energy level and, for example, the need for heating or cooling in the passenger compartment.
- Volvo recommends that you use the Hybrid mode for day-to-day driving.
Points to remember when driving with the Hybrid mode
- at higher speeds, the ground clearance is adjusted automatically to a lower level (Applies to level control)
- all-wheel drive is engaged automatically when required
- the internal combustion engine is started more often at low State of Charge (SoC) in the hybrid battery. Charge the car or activate Charge under Battery usage in the centre display to run on electricity alone.
- the car can be run on electricity alone at high State of Charge (SoC). The internal combustion engine starts when the energy level in the battery is insufficient for the engine power that the driver requests with the accelerator pedal.
- energy is regenerated back to the hybrid battery during gentle pressure on the brake pedal.
Pure
- Use of the car’s electric motor is prioritised in the Pure mode. The drive mode is available when the hybrid battery has a sufficiently high charge level. If the battery’s charge level is too low, the car’s characteristics are controlled in order to provide as low energy consumption as possible.
- Volvo recommends that you use the Pure mode for day-to-day driving.
Points to remember when driving with the Pure mode
- the ground clearance is lower(Applies to level control) in order to reduce air resistance
- the output of some climate settings is adapted
- in slippery road conditions, slightly more wheel-spin may be permitted before all-wheel drive is engaged
The Pure mode is available when the hybrid battery has a sufficiently high State of Charge (SoC) and power output, which may be affected by temperature. When the internal combustion engine starts, the drive mode automatically changes to the Hybrid mode until the driver has the opportunity to select the Pure mode again.
The internal combustion engine starts:
- if the battery’s State of Charge (SoC) is too low
- if the driver fully depresses the accelerator pedal.
The Pure mode is not available:
- if the battery’s State of Charge (SoC) is too low
- if the speed exceeds 140 km/h (87 mph) (does not apply when driving downhill, etc.)
- in the event of system/component limitations e.g. low outside temperature.
Note
The internal combustion engine may start temporarily in certain driving situations when the Pure drive mode is in use. This is in order to provide the wheels with the desired torque in driving situations that require higher load, e.g. when driving with a trailer or on an uphill gradient.
Warning
Remember that the car does not emit any engine noise when it is only powered by the electric motor and may therefore be difficult to notice by children, pedestrians, cyclists and animals. This is especially true at low speeds, such as in car parks.
Power
(The drive mode only applies to cars with a maximum power output above 300 kW. The Power mode is also available in the Polestar* version)
- The Power drive mode adapts the combined power output from the electric motor and internal combustion engine in order to provide as high as possible performance and response to acceleration. The gear changes become faster and more distinct, and the gearbox prioritises a gear with greater traction. Steering response is faster and shock absorption harder.
- Volvo recommends that you use the Power mode when you want sportier characteristics and faster response to acceleration.
Points to remember when driving with the Power mode
- lower ground clearance means that the body follows the roadway in order to reduce roll during cornering
- fuel consumption may increase.
Constant AWD
- The Constant AWD drive mode improves the car’s traction with enhanced all-wheel drive. An adapted distribution between the front and rear axle torque provides good traction, stability and roadholding.
- Volvo recommends that you use Constant AWD for slippery road conditions, when driving with a heavy trailer, or when towing.
Off-road
- The Off-road drive mode provides high ground clearance, steering is light, and all-wheel drive and the function for low speed control with hill descent control (Hill Descent Control) are activated.
- Volvo recommends that you use the Off-road mode when you want increased traction and for driving in difficult terrain and on poor roads.
Points to remember when driving with the Off-road mode
- The drive mode is only available at low speeds, up to 40 km/h (25 mph). If this speed is exceeded, Off-road mode is cancelled and the Constant AWD drive mode is activated instead.
- fuel consumption may increase.
Note
The driving mode is not designed to be used on public roads.
Note
If the car is switched off in Off-road mode, and therefore has high ground clearance, the car is lowered next time it is started.
Important
The Off-road drive mode must not be used while driving with a trailer without trailer connector. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the air bellows.
Polestar
(Option/accessory)
- The Polestar drive mode adapts the combined power output from the electric motor and internal combustion engine in order to provide as high as possible performance and response to acceleration. The gear changes become faster and more distinct, and the gearbox prioritises a gear with greater traction. Steering response is faster and shock absorption harder.
- Volvo recommends that you use the Polestar mode when you want sportier characteristics and faster response to acceleration.
Points to remember when driving with the Polestar mode
- lower ground clearance(Applies to level control) means that the body follows the roadway in order to reduce roll during cornering
- fuel consumption may increase.
Changing drive mode
Select the drive mode adapted for the current driving conditions.
- Remember that not all drive modes are available in all situations.
- Change the drive mode via the centre display.
- Press .
- Select Driving.
- Select the required drive mode.
Distribute the electrical energy as energy-efficiently as possible for the whole mileage using Google Maps.
In the driving position Hybrid the car is powered by both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine. If a destination has been selected in Google Maps, the car calculates how the electrical energy should be distributed as energy-efficiently as possible for the whole mileage. For example, the calculation includes speed limits, traffic, and elevation differences
Using smart energy distribution
Select destination in Google Maps and check that the criteria below have been met:
- Hybrid drive mode is selected.
- Battery usage is set to Auto in the settings for Driving in the centre display.
Off road mode
An adapted low speed mode that increases the car’s traction when driving in difficult off road conditions, on steep hills, and on a poor surface.
- The Off-road drive mode provides high ground clearance(Option/accessory), light steering, enhanced all-wheel drive(Option/accessory) and activated low speed control function with hill descent control. This provides enhanced engine braking, which makes it possible to increase or reduce the speed of the car on steep hills by using only the accelerator pedal, without using the foot brake.
- The speed is controlled using the accelerator pedal. When the accelerator pedal is released, the car slows down to creep, regardless of the gradient of the hill and without the need for the foot brake to be used.
- The brake lights are switched on when the car is braked/speed is reduced. The driver can also use the foot brake to reduce creep or to stop the car.
Remember the following:
- The mode is only available at low speeds, up to 40 km/h (25 mph). Off road drive mode is deactivated if the speed is exceeded.
Note
Off road mode is not designed to be used on public roads.
Activating or deactivating Off road
- Press in the centre display.
- Select Driving.
- Activating or deactivating Off-road mode.
- The function is deactivated when the car is switched off.
Launch function
Launch can be used when maximum acceleration is required from stationary. The function is available in the following drive modes: Hybrid, Constant AWD and Power.
Activate Launch
Make sure the car is stationary and the wheels are pointing straight forward.
- Move to gear position D.
- Depress the brake pedal fully.
- Then fully depress the accelerator pedal.
- Release the brake pedal within 2 seconds.
Note
If the Launch function does not work, wait a few minutes and let the drivetrain cool down to working temperature before retrying.
Important
The drivetrain is subject to wear and tear when using Launch and therefore the function is only available a limited number of times.
Range
- The car’s range depends on several factors. The ability to achieve a long range varies according to the circumstances and conditions under which the car is being driven.
- The car’s range and electric drive depend on several factors. The ability to achieve a long range varies according to the circumstances and conditions under which the car is being driven.
- The certified value for the car’s mileage should not be interpreted as an expected range. The certified value should primarily be used to compare different cars and is obtained during special test cycles.
- The estimated range is shown in the driver display.
When the car is delivered from the factory, or after a factory reset, the range is based on the certified value. When the car has been driven for a while, the range is based on historical driving patterns.
Factors that affect the range
In addition to historical trip data, there are several different factors that affect the range. The longest range is achieved under extremely favourable conditions when all factors have a positive impact.
Examples of factors that affect the range:
- speed
- climate settings
- topography
- preconditioning
- tyres and tyre pressure
- traffic situation
- temperature and weather
- road conditions.
- 20 °C (68 °F) outside temperature and passenger compartment climate Off.
- 20 °C (68 °F) outside temperature and passenger compartment climate On.
- 35 °C (95 °F) outside temperature and passenger compartment climate On.
- -10 °C (14 °F) outside temperature and passenger compartment climate On.
The diagram shows the approximate ratio between constant speed and range.
- The graph shows that a lower speed gives a longer range. The outside temperature also affects the range, so that very cold or very hot ambient temperatures result in a shorter range.|
- Lines 1 and 2 show the approximate difference in range affected by the climate functions. Turning off the climate control is more beneficial for range.
All-wheel drive
- All-wheel drive (AWD(All-wheel drive)) means that the car is driving all four wheels at the same time, which improves traction.
- The electric motor that drives the rear wheels enables electric all-wheel drive functionality. All-wheel drive characteristics vary depending on the selected drive mode