Volvo's new naming system for electric era

Volvo’s first full-electric vehicle has a lot of additional names that are not essential for every day use, but they do tell a more complete story.

The battery-powered compact’s full name is Volvo XC40 P8 AWD Recharge.

The P comes from the model being pure electric.

The 8 signifies that the car’s battery capacity is between 70 to 80 kilowatt hours. (The official number is between 75 and 78 kWh.)

AWD is for all-wheel drive and Recharge is name that will be attached to all Volvos that have either a full-electric or a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

While the XC40 EV will launch next year with just one power offering, Jonas Engstrom envisions Volvo adding P models with numbers below the number eight, for example a P6, and said that nothing would prevent Volvo from going to double digits, such as a P10.

“This is the start of a new nomenclature for describing the capacity of the electric vehicle's battery,” said Engstrom, who is business owner for Volvo’s 40- and 60-series cars. “I cannot provide any specifics about the future, but we are open to going above or below [P8].”