Volvo Cars’ EX30: Quick and Frugal

Volvo Cars is promising its new battery-electric compact CUV will be the quickest car it has ever built and will be priced to rival ICE-powered competitors.

It also claims that while the EX30 has many of the premium features of its larger EX90 sibling, including its Qualcomm-powered computer technology, the BEV enjoys the lowest CO2 footprint of any car on the market today – with the highest mix of recycled metals and plastics including textiles made from old denim jeans.

Unveiled in Milan, Italy, it will be priced from €36,000 ($34,950) and is available to order now in selected markets. Deliveries are expected by the end of the year.

Volvo EX30 BEV Interior

There’s a choice of three battery and motor combinations with the headliner being the Twin Motor Performance variant which is paired with a NMC battery featuring lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt, claiming to produce its energy more efficiently than the entry-level LFP variant. This all-wheel drive version of the EX30 provides 428 hp and takes you from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.6 seconds.

For the cost-conscious, the base model is focused on those city dwellers who tend to travel shorter distances between charges where the less-expensive LFP battery is sufficient. This standard-range battery, which uses lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry, is more cost-effective and less resource-intensive to produce.

For those needing to maximize range, the Single Motor Extended Range variant with an NMC extended-range battery is the best option. This version provides a claimed range of up to 298 miles (480 km) between charges.

The car also claims fast charging with the extended-range Twin Motor variant enjoying a charging capacity of up to 153 kW, while the standard-range car has a capacity of 134 kW. Volvo claims its battery can charge from 10% to 80% in a little over 25 minutes. Through the car’s single center display and app, the consumer can set the amperage, maximum charging level and the times charging can begin.

Naturally, Volvo makes great play on a multitude of safety features including the door warning of the proximity of a vehicle, such as a bicycle, before opening. The EX30 also is Volvo’s first car to include a new generation of the Park Pilot Assist feature. It claims to cope with most types of parking spaces, including parallel, curved, perpendicular and diagonal fishbone-style.

“The fully electric EX30 might be our smallest ever (CUV), but it’s a big deal for our customers and a big deal for us as a company,” Volvo CEO Jim Rowan (pictured, below) says in a statement. “We like to say the EX30 is small yet mighty because it delivers on everything you’d want from a Volvo but in a smaller package.”

Volvo EX30 with Rowan_0