Charging the hybrid battery

In addition to the fuel tank, as in a conventional car, the car is equipped with a rechargeable battery - a so-called hybrid battery of the lithium-ion type.

The hybrid battery is charged using a charging cable which is located in a storage compartment in the cargo area.

 Note

Volvo recommends a charging cable in accordance with IEC 62196 and IEC 61851 which supports temperature monitoring.

The time it takes for the hybrid battery to be charged is dependent on the charging current that is used.

 Note

The capacity of the hybrid battery decreases slightly with age and use, which may result in increased use of the petrol engine and thereby slightly increased fuel consumption.

 Warning

Replacing the hybrid battery must only be performed by a workshop - an authorised Volvo workshop is recommended.

Charging cable handle and charging input socket

P5-2017-XC90 Hybrid - Charging
Charging cable handle and charging input socket.
Charging status is indicated in three ways:
  • Indicators on the charging cable's control unit.
  • Indicator lamp in the car's charging input socket.
  • Illustration and text in the driver display.

The starter battery is charged when the hybrid battery is charging and terminated when the hybrid battery is fully charged.

If the hybrid battery's temperature is below -10 ºC (14 ºF) or above 40 ºC (104 ºF) then it may mean that some of the car's functions are changed or unavailable because the capacity of the hybrid batteries is reduced outside this temperature range.

Electric operation is not possible if the temperature of the battery is too low or too high. If drive mode PURE is then selected, the combustion engine starts.

Charging with fixed control unit in accordance with mode 31

In certain markets the control unit is installed within a charging station connected to the mains power circuit. In which case, the charging cable has no control unit of its own. Therefore, use the charging station's charging cable and follow the instructions at the charging station.

Energy recovery during braking

P5-1717-ALL hybrid-Hybrid meter charging change values
Indication in driver display during energy recovery.

Energy is regenerated to the battery during light pressure on the brake pedal or during engine braking.

The function is available in all drive modes together with gear position D or B.

  1. 1 European standard - EN 61851-1.