Volvo EX60 - It's A Middle Finger To The Petrol Price

Listen up, Mzansi motorists.

Every month, we watch with trepidation as the fuel price climbs higher. Now and again, the price comes down by a tiny bit.

All the while, we feel the cost of fuel in our shrinking pockets.

However, there is relief from the dread of filling up the tank: It’s Volvo’s new EX60 electric car.

Simply park and charge it, and it’s good to go without depleting your pockets.

The good news for motorists, who feel the pain of fuel hikes, is that Volvo Car South Africa is launching the new EX60 in fortnight on 21 January.

However, Volvo has yet to disclose the date on which the car will be available in the country.

Let’s talk real talk.

The Volvo EX60 is not just another fancy car for driving around in Sandton: It screams “great purchase” for anyone who can afford it.

For the Gogo in the village, who wants her grandson to visit more often from the city without him complaining about the cost of diesel, the Volvo EX60 is the answer.

The Volvo EX60 is also for the businessperson in eNkangala, Mpumalanga, who drives to meetings across the province and is looking to make the necessary trips more affordable.

Add to that, the Volvo EX60 is a godsend for the cash-flush entrepreneur, eNgcobo, Eastern Cape, who despairs about spending a lot of money on petrol instead of investing it.

The Volvo EX60 magic number is 810 kilometres on a full charge.

Think about that.

Johannesburg to Durban is about 600km.

You could drive from Jozi to the sea, arrive with over 200km of range still in the battery, and drive around Durban for the weekend without even thinking about a recharge.

Want to visit family or friends in KwaSwayimane, in KwaZulu-Natal, from Johannesburg? No sweat. A smooth, quiet cruise all the way.

A suburban run from Ballito to Umlazi? It’s a breeze, not a budget item.

And when you do need to recharge? Volvo says it’s quicker than your coffee break.

Stop, plug in, grab a cappuccino, and by the time you’re done, you’ve added hundreds of kilometres.

Practically speaking, this means the EX60 can add up to 340km of range in just ten minutes when using a 400kW fast charger, making a charging stop nearly as fast as a fuel stop. And all EX60 customers can get a 10-year warranty on the battery.

EX40 Sand edition

Almost as fast as old-fashioned fuel, minus the cost.

But here’s the real kicker – Volvo is making it easy for first-timers.

When you buy the new EX60, Volvo promises that for two years, you won’t pay a cent for public charging.

Volvo will even help you install a fast charger at your house.

In addition, owners of the new EX60 will get 10GB of Free Vodacom data every month in the car for three years.

No need to buy data.

Inside the EX60, the kids can watch YouTube; you can stream music and use Google Maps for 36 months without spending any on airtime.

For three years, the family stays connected without cost, thanks to Volvo and Vodacom.

Let’s talk rands and cents.

Once you purchase your new Volvo EX60, all the money you usually pay to fill up your petrol or diesel tank becomes a bonus to spend on other things.

For example, you can even use the savings to make extra payments on your car loan or mortgage.

Or save it. Or spoil the family.

Once you own a Volvo EX60, you will be free from the pump.

This is more than a car. It’s a power move for financial freedom.

While Eskom has power supply issues, your Volvo has a reliable battery.

That 810km range is your own personal power station.

It’s freedom from the petrol price, from load-shedding anxiety on the road, from being tied to the fuel levy.

And forget Eskom anxiety – you won’t be charging your EX60 from a dodgy grid plug in your yard.

Most charging stations are located at shopping malls that run on solar, and major fast chargers on national roads are powered by renewables.

With billions of rand being invested in expanding the vehicle charging network, plug-in points are springing up everywhere.

The EX60 sends the message: “We deserve the best tech, right here, right now. It’s for our long roads, our big families, our need to connect and travel without that constant financial pinch”.

The EX60 is not just a new SUV.

It’s your declaration of independence.

Besides, it’s the ultimate middle finger to the petrol price.

And Mzansi, let’s hope other carmakers, especially the Chinese, follow suit with a bigger range and drop the prices for their electric cars.