Drivers of plug-in hybrid Volvos can now break down their driving patterns with the latest version of the Volvo On Call smartphone app; part of the brand’s ongoing work to encourage PHEV drivers to plug in their cars.

The updated Volvo On Call app allows drivers to see how far they have driven in fully electric mode, along with their electricity and fuel consumption and other metrics

The new functionalities, on offer for all Volvo plug-in hybrids in the 47 countries globally where Volvo On Call operates, enable drivers to see at a glance how far they have driven in fully electric mode, along with their electricity and fuel consumption, and other metrics. Coming months will also enable drivers to see the impact of their driving on their CO2 footprint, as well as the estimated fuel costs saved by driving in fully electric mode.

The updated platform can also be used to inform drivers on the status of the electricity refund launched last year for models under Volvo’s recently launched Recharge brand; as with the latest developments to the Volvo On Call app, the ‘free’ electricity offer is intended to counter some of the controversy over drivers misusing by PHEVs by never plugging their vehicles in and just relying on the internal combustion engine.

“Just like a step counter helps people exercise more, I believe that by giving people better insight into their driving patterns, it will help them to drive in a more sustainable way,” said Björn Annwall, head of EMEA at Volvo Cars. “We see plug-in hybrids as ‘part-time electric cars’ that encourage changes in people’s behaviour and help pave the way for a transition towards fully electric cars.”

Further updates to the Volvo On Call platform will be made in line with customer feedback.

“We want the Volvo On Call app to make life easier for you as a user and create a more personal experience,” said Ödgärd Andersson, chief digital officer at Volvo Cars. “As the car becomes ever more connected, the potential of the app increases and we intend over time for it to be as much a part of the Volvo as the car itself.”