1000km Volvo EV coming

July 1, 2021July 9, 2021 John Carey 5805 Views Volvo 1000km EV coming, Volvo Concept Recharge

Volvo aims to have an EV with a real-world driving range of 1000km in production “later this decade”.

The Swedish car maker made the announcement during an online event in Gothenburg overnight where it outlined its future technology strategy.

Working with its new partner, Swedish battery company Northvolt, Volvo says it will increase the energy density of the battery cells powering its EVs by 50 percent compared to what’s on the market today. But this second-generation tech is just the beginning…

Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars CEO, with Concept Recharge

With its third-generation battery pack cells, Volvo says a further increase in energy density means the 1000km EV will become reality.

Although a senior battery and propulsion system engineer wound this back a little during a following Q&A session – around 900km, measured to the realistic WLTP standard was more like it, he said – it’s still a stunning number.

Concept Recharge previews the grille-free face of future Volvo EVs

“We will approach solid state,” the engineer promised, referring to the new cell chemistries – and solid state batteries – Volvo will adopt in the pursuit of ever-greater energy density. They say the energy density of their third-generation packs will break through the 1kWh per litre barrier. This is an improvement of around 50 percent over current tech.

At the same time, Volvo says it will drastically cut charging times by reducing the internal electrical resistance of the cells in its battery packs. The company promises to halve the 10 to 80 percent recharge time of its future EVs.

While its second-generation battery packs will be able to accept 200kW DC fast charging, Volvo’s third-generation battery packs will be good for 350kW DC fast charging. They’ll also be 800 volt, it was revealed.

Long wheelbase of Concept Recharge makes space for people above and batteries below

Volvo also unveiled a concept car showcasing the new design direction for its transition to a 100 percent EV company by 2030. The Concept Recharge is a pointer to the style of the next Volvo XC90, which will be both EV-only and the company’s flagship model.

During the lengthy Tech Moments presentation from its hometown of Gothenburg, the company also announced that it’s developing, in-house, new operating system to that will unite control of all electronics in a central core. It’ll be called Volvo Car OS.

Flat-floored interior of Concept Recharge is minimalistic

Other announcements were that the XC90 replacement will feature truly autnomous – or as Volvo prefers to say “unsupervised” – capability. It’ll be restricted to approved motorways at first, but the company says its abilities will grow over time. It will adopt, as standard across all models, lidar sensor tech to enable this advance.

John Carey

Grew up in country NSW, way back when petrol was laced with lead. Has written about cars and the car business for more than 35 years, working full-time and freelance for leading mags, major newspapers and websites in Australia and (sometimes) overseas. Avidly interested in core EV technologies like motors and batteries, and believes the switch to electromobility definitely should be encouraged. Is waiting patiently for someone to make a good and affordable EV that will fit inside his tiny underground garage in northern Italy, where he's lived for the past decade. Likes the BMW i3, but it's just too damned wide...