On the Volvo Capital Markets Day presentation in Sweden immediately, the corporate made a number of new know-how 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 vehicles that can launch worldwide by the tip of the last decade.
Volvo’s EV plans have fairly taken off within the U.S. in the way in which they’ve in Europe, however now it posits as a know-how firm that goals to grasp AI and security. The corporate mentioned it wasn’t racing towards time to develop AI and software program however was dedicated to doing it the precise manner to assist it obtain its objective of “zero collisions.”
5 New EVs This Decade
The newly launched EX90 electrical SUV that InsideEVs lately reviewed will function a springboard for the corporate’s subsequent gen EVs.
Volvo mentioned its learnings from the EX90 will assist it construct the ES90 electrical sedan that’s set to be unveil in just a few 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 mentioned in the course of the Capital Markets Day presentation.
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The ES90 will experience on the identical SPA2 structure because the EX90, however “it will likely be for international audiences, together with the EU, U.S. and Asia. However China could also be its greatest market,” Severinson mentioned.
Additional time, learnings from the EX90 SUV and ES90 sedan will assist Volvo develop the mass market EX60 mid-size electrical SUV. The EX60 will likely be based mostly on the next-generation SPA3 platform. Will probably be adopted by three extra unnamed EVs, which can characteristic related software program and electrical architectures.
There’s additionally a “lengthy vary PHEV” that is below growth, 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 mentioned the SPA3 platform will characteristic Volvo’s third era electrical motors. The present SPA2 platform motors have a 91% effectivity. SPA3 motors will likely be 93% environment friendly, Volvo mentioned. A few of Volvo’s older e-motors had been 85% environment friendly. For perspective, the typical thermal effectivity of inside combustion engines is about 35%.
It can additionally characteristic structural battery packs—one thing Tesla did years in the past—and they are going to be outfitted with new excessive vitality density cells. Apparently, Volvo mentioned the scalability of this platform would permit it to make vehicles which can be bigger than the EX90 and smaller than the EX30.
Volvo
Volvo teased the ES90 electrical sedan in the course of the 90/90 day presentation in Sweden this week.
“Superset” Tech Stack
Among the many greatest bulletins immediately was what Volvo referred to as its “Superset” tech stack. It is mainly a standardized set of modules, software program and {hardware} that every one future Volvos will come outfitted with.
“Like a set of constructing blocks, it may be configured in many various methods. Every of our new vehicles will likely 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 mentioned.
“The EX60 would be the subsequent key quantity driver for Volvo Automobiles. Will probably be the primary automobile to be based mostly on the SPA3 structure, made in Gothenburg for international markets,” Severinson mentioned. “Three extra vehicles stay in lively growth and all 5 will characteristic our Superset tech stack, which means the identical modules, {hardware}, software program, and platform.”
A part of this know-how 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 vehicles enhance their ADAS options and collect knowledge for future autonomous driving capabilities.
Volvo
Volvo mentioned it was increasing its partnership with Nvidia to incorporate the Drive Thor SoC on its future fashions. It didn’t say which automobile would characteristic 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 likely be electrified. By 2030, we intention to be 90-100% electrified,” CEO Jim Rowan mentioned. This consists of plug-in hybrids and absolutely electrical fashions. Though he admitted that he doesn’t anticipate the transition to be linear. Totally different markets will see diverse phases of development.
At a separate roundtable with reporters, Rowan doubled down on his dedication in the direction of EVs. He mentioned EVs had been a no brainer in the case of effectivity. “On the finish of the day, know-how 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 points 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 elements of the world and that is nice for the EV transition.
