Volvo is obviously a very safety-oriented brand. It's consistently ranked as one of the safest automakers out there. Now, some firefighters are going to tear up a Volvo XC40 Recharge in the name of safety. Volvo says it's donating the fully-electric SUV to the Boston Fire Department so that the department's crews can learn more about electric vehicle fires.
This isn't the first time Volvo has done this either. A nearly-identical XC40 Recharge was donated to the New York Fire Department last year- we say nearly because the XC got a mild refresh this year. Regardless, the aim here is the same as last year- to educate first responders on EV fires. These fires can be particularly nasty due to the batteries, which often don't stay put out after they've gotten crispy, in addition to the toxic nature of the battery's cells. Volvo says first responders need to adapt their extraction procedures to safely work around an EVs large batteries and high-voltage wiring.