Volvo’s Range Assistant will teach you to eke out EV miles

Volvo is trialling a beta version of its new Range Assistant app, designed to help drivers of its XC40 Recharge and forthcoming C40 Recharge squeeze out as many miles from a charge as possible.

The app is coming to the electric SUV by way of an over-the-air update before the end of October, while its crossover sibling will have it pre-installed when production officially gets underway.

The Range Assistant promises drivers ‘a clear and accurate’ range estimate based on real-time energy consumption, automatically adjusting the climate control to conserve juice when it’s needed most.

It also provides a breakdown on how energy is being used inside the car, and suggests ways drivers can adapt their driving style to be as efficient as possible. A bit like the Microsoft paperclip, but for throttle and braking instead of letter writing.

“Through in-house development of software and over-the-air updates, we can constantly improve our cars and make sure that your electric Volvo stays fresh,” said Sanela Ibrovic, Volvo’s head of connected experience. “The Range Assistant app is a great example of how quick development and deployment of new features can improve the Volvo customer experience every day.”

A full release will follow with additional features, and Volvo says its latest software updates will improve the smart battery management, regen braking performance and the pre-conditioning timer for more real-world range.

It looks like you’re trying to hypermile your way home, would you like help?