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    2030 Volvo Aims to be Leather-free Starting with the Electric C40 SUV.

      Volvo is making an ethical stand for animal welfare as it moves to a fully electric portfolio of auto's. Starting with the C40 Recharge, all new BEVs will be completely leather-free. Tell us what you think!

    Volvo has stated that two-thirds of consumers now consider a brand's environmental policies as a critical factor when purchasing luxury products according to a recent study (Source: Vogue Business Index, Winter 2020). This same percentage of buyers has indicated that they would like to see carbon labelling on products as a way to provide greater transparency of the companies impact on products and materials (Source: The Carbon Trust, 2020 YouGov Survey)

    This means that a company needs to take into account actively sourcing high-quality, sustainable and responsibly-sourced materials as they strive to build luxury products. This coincides with Volvo launch of the C40 Recharge as the first luxury model fully devoid of Leather.

    The conclusions and insights in these reports will help shape Volvo electric Auto's portfolio as they launch model after model moving to a pure electric portfolio by 2030. To quote Robin Page, head of design at Volvo, "We have a vision of where we need to go in the future, with the first step to ensure we harness sustainable, natural and recycled materials."

    By 2025, Volvo is aiming for 25% of materials in New Volvo auto's to consist of recycled and bio-based content, as part of its ambition to be a fully circular business by 2040. This means that materials whether it be from auto's or other products re-enter the circular economy and become part of new products or go back into the earth where they can be used be it composting, etc.

    Now one would say that Leather is natural and so why not have leather in their auto. To quote their press release:

    The company’s move towards leather-free interiors is also driven by a concern about the negative environmental impacts of cattle farming, including deforestation. Livestock is estimated to be responsible for around 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, with the majority coming from cattle farming.

    Instead of leather interior options, Volvo Cars will offer its customers alternatives such as high-quality sustainable materials made from bio-based and recycled sources.

    Further in giving customers who care about animal welfare and recycling, Volvo had this to say in their press release:

    For example, Nordico, a new interior material created by Volvo Cars will consist of textiles made from recycled material such as PET bottles, bio-attributed material from sustainable forests in Sweden and Finland, and corks recycled from the wine industry – setting a new standard for premium interior design. This material will make its debut in the next generation of Volvo models.

    Volvo Cars will also continue to offer wool blend options from suppliers that are certified to source responsibly, as the company looks to ensure full traceability and animal welfare in its wool supply chain.

    For those that wonder how this is being driven, you can read the report Volvo is using in this focus change: For the full version of The rise of conscious design: a report about tomorrow’s materials, click HERE.

    Volvo believes this move to go leather-free as a step in the right direction in taking a strong and ethical position to do what it can to help stop animal harm which comes from reducing the demand for materials that contain animal products.

    You decide for yourself, is this interior of the C40 a luxury interior?

    Volvo wants to invite you to join them in helping the world be a SUSTAINABLE world where Sustainability is a requirement rather than an option.

    The C40 will start in the US well equipped at $58,750 before tax credits.  These BEVs will come with 250 kWh of complimentary high speed charging at Electrify America's network and a 4yr or 40,000 mile warranty.

    To quote their press release: 

    The New C40 Recharge will be available in the Ultimate specification level and includes every available feature such as Android Operating System with Google imbedded, oversized fixed Panoramic Moonroof, Pixel LED lighting, Pilot Assist, Harman Kardon Premium Sound, 360° Surround View Camera and Unique 20” wheels.  Customers can choose the Fjord Blue Carpet for no additional charge and it may be combined with 4 of the 7 exterior paint colors.

    2022 C40 SUV by VOLVO

    Welcome to the 21st Century of Sustainability!

     

    Volvo Cars to go leather-free in all pure electric cars as part of animal welfare ambitions - Volvo Car USA Newsroom

    Volvo Cars and The Future Laboratory explore the future of sustainable luxury materials in new report - Volvo Car USA Newsroom

    Volvo C40 Recharge Enters U.S. Well Equipped at $58,750 Before Tax Credit; Expanded Fast Charging Now Available - Volvo Car USA Newsroom (volvocars.com)

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  • Posts

    • Those use cases will necessitate the purchase of something with a long range, like 300+. But even still, two hours at 11.5kW would put 50 - 70 miles of range back in the car. You might need to make one 10-minute DCFC stop if you had a really busy day, but otherwise, you could make it.
    • I can understand this, but then this is part of my daily life. With two kids with their own families and grandkids it is not uncommon for us to be out and about for the day, come home for a bit before heading out to help with the grandkids and their afterschool activities. Plus, with family that is living from both sides north and south of us, it would not be uncommon to drive 75 miles down south to deal with my wife's side of the family, see the nieces/nephews and then up north to my side to see folks and with both our parents in senior years with health issues, also moving back in forth. Course this is why Sun puts on about 15,000 miles a year on the SS. We all have different use cases.
    • That's all I'm worried about. I'm not going to spend a sht ton more money having a 19.2kW charger installed for the 1 day every 3 years I empty the battery, get home for 2 hours, and have to again drive enough that I couldn't make it back home...  
    • I could see settling on three charger rates, but definitely not one. A Bolt or Kia EV4 type vehicle simply does not need 19kW home charging.  It would be an excessive cost to retrofit a house and the number of buyers who actually use that rate would be pretty close to zero.  That would be like insisting that the Corolla has to have a 6.2 liter. It's excessive and doesn't fit the use case. Now, if we settled into 7.5kW, 11.5kW, and 19.4kW as a standard, that would probably achieve what you are proposing while still giving cost flexibility.  It would allow for entry-level EVs to get the lower cost / lower speed charger while allowing the larger vehicles or premium vehicles to have faster home charging.  For example, the EV6 could have a lower cost 7.5kW charger while the Genesis GV60 on the same platform could get the 11.5kW charger because it is a premium brand and higher cost vehicle.  Then any large EV with or near a 200kW battery could have the 19.4kW charger, but even then, unless it is a newly built house or a commercial fleet, it will still probably charge only at 11.5kW, as that's about the max that the vast majority of homes are wired to do.  Unless you're driving an EV with a 200kW battery to 10% every day, an 11.5kW charger can "fill" an EV to 80% overnight with room to spare, so most people (including me), won't want the extra expense of spending extra money just to say my EV charged faster while I slept.  Either way, it will be ready for me when I need to leave at 7 am.
    • @ccap41 @Drew Dowdell Thank you both, this is the kind of dialogue I feel the Auto buyers need to be made aware of and the various use cases in understanding as I feel most DO NOT really understand this and give into the FEAR Mongering of News Stories. While I still feel that everyone should have the same charging rate capabilities, I also understand both your points. I do feel that this will change electrical across the WORLD over time due to the need of charging.
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