Can the Volvo T8 Hybrid Run Without Charging?
2 Answers
No. Plug-in hybrid vehicles have two sets of power drive systems: 1. Traditional internal combustion engine drive: obtains driving force by consuming fuel (gasoline or diesel). 2. Electric drive: obtains power by consuming electricity from the power battery. Under certain conditions, the two systems can work together to drive the vehicle. Normally, the engine of a plug-in hybrid model cannot directly charge the power battery, but it can charge the battery through some energy recovery devices. Therefore, when the power battery is low on charge, it must be charged externally, meaning that a plug-in hybrid must be charged.
The Volvo T8 hybrid can theoretically run without charging, just like my neighbor Lao Wang who drove it for half a year without a charging station in his community. However, the actual experience differs significantly. When not charging, the battery remains at a low charge level, forcing the engine to both power the car and recharge the battery, doubling fuel consumption to around 10L. The most noticeable difference is the reduced performance—the electric motor can't contribute much during hard acceleration, weakening the push-back sensation and limiting the AWD capability. Although the system has safeguards to prevent complete battery depletion, prolonged use in this state isn't ideal for battery longevity. Volvo engineers have advised that the car performs best when the battery is kept above 20% charge.
