- 5 new all-electric Volvos will launch this decade, constructed on next-generation platforms.
- Volvo stated its investing closely in constructing out “core compute” expertise to advance the connectivity, security and ADAS programs on its automobiles.
- EX60 mid-size electrical SUV will debut the next-generation SPA3 platform. ES90 electrical sedan will probably be unveiled quickly.
On the Volvo Capital Markets Day presentation in Sweden in the present day, the corporate made a number of new expertise bulletins, together with a broader collaboration with Nvidia, a brand new in-house developed software program stack, a model new SPA3 platform and as many as 5 new electrical automobiles that can launch worldwide by the top of the last decade.
Volvo’s EV progress has stalled within the U.S. in contrast to in Europe the place it is taking off, however now it posits as a expertise firm that goals to grasp AI, electrification and security. The corporate stated it wasn’t racing towards time to develop AI and software program however was dedicated to doing it the correct manner to assist it obtain its objective of “zero collisions.”
5 New EVs This Decade
The newly launched EX90 electrical SUV that InsideEVs just lately reviewed will function a springboard for the corporate’s subsequent gen EVs.
Volvo stated its learnings from the EX90 will assist it construct the ES90 electrical sedan that’s set to be unveiled in a couple of months. “It’s our first low electrical automobile that is in a category of its personal,” Volvo’s Chief Product and Technique Officer Erik Severinson stated through the Capital Markets Day presentation.
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The ES90 will trip on the identical SPA2 structure because the EX90, however “it is going to be for international audiences, together with the EU, U.S. and Asia. However China could also be its greatest market,” Severinson stated.
Time beyond regulation, learnings from the EX90 SUV and ES90 sedan will assist Volvo develop the mass market EX60 mid-size electrical SUV. The EX60 will probably be based mostly on the next-generation SPA3 platform. It will likely be adopted by three extra unnamed EVs, which is able to function comparable software program and electrical architectures.
There’s additionally a “lengthy vary PHEV” that is underneath improvement, but it surely wasn’t instantly clear if it was a part of the 5 EVs which can be deliberate for this decade.
SPA3 Platform
Volvo stated the SPA3 platform will function its third era electrical motors. The present SPA2 platform motors have a 91% effectivity. SPA3 motors will probably be 93% environment friendly, Volvo stated. For perspective, the typical thermal effectivity of inside combustion engines is about 35%.
It is going to additionally function structural battery packs—one thing Tesla did years in the past—and they are going to be geared up with new excessive vitality density cells. Curiously, Volvo stated the scalability of this platform would permit it to make automobiles which can be bigger than the EX90 and smaller than the EX30.
Volvo
Volvo teased the ES90 electrical sedan through the 90/90 day presentation in Sweden this week.
“Superset” Tech Stack
Among the many greatest bulletins in the present day was what Volvo known as its “Superset” tech stack. It is principally a standardized set of modules, software program and {hardware} that every one future Volvos will come geared up with.
“Like a set of constructing blocks, it may be configured in many alternative methods. Every of our new automobiles will probably be a range, or a subset, of constructing blocks from the Superset tech stack and we’ll repeatedly enhance and develop the tech stack,” the corporate stated.
“The EX60 would be the subsequent key quantity driver for Volvo Automobiles. It will likely be the primary automobile to be based mostly on the SPA3 structure, made in Gothenburg for international markets,” Severinson stated. “Three extra automobiles stay in lively improvement and all 5 will function our Superset tech stack, which means the identical modules, {hardware}, software program, and platform.”
A part of this expertise platform is the Nvidia Drive Orin system on a chip (SoC) that the EX90 is provided with. It’s able to 250 trillions of operations per second (TOPS). All of this helps automobiles enhance their ADAS options and collect knowledge for future autonomous driving capabilities.
Volvo
Volvo stated it was increasing its partnership with Nvidia to incorporate the Drive Thor SoC on its future fashions. It didn’t say which automobile would function that, however the EX60 looks as if a risk. Nvidia Drive Thor could be able to a whopping 1,000 trillions of operations per second.
“By 2025, 50-60% of all international gross sales will probably be electrified. By 2030, we intention to be 90-100% electrified,” CEO Jim Rowan stated. This consists of plug-in hybrids and absolutely electrical fashions. Though he admitted that he doesn’t count on the transition to be linear. Completely different markets will see diverse phases of progress.
At a separate roundtable with reporters, Rowan doubled down on his dedication in direction of EVs. He stated EVs have been a no brainer with regards to effectivity. “On the finish of the day, expertise will win. We’re dedicated to EVs. Electrical is the longer term.”
Nonetheless, it was a disgrace that Volvo did not say a lot about the way it was planning to enhance the driving vary and charging expertise of its EVs—two elements that stay central to the EV transition. However above all, some actually high-tech, absolutely electrical and PHEV Volvos are coming this decade to the U.S., Europe and different components of the world and that is nice for the EV transition.
