Volvo Cars announced that the new EX30, the smallest SUV of the brand, will be produced in Europe and also in China, starting from 2025, in order to contribute to the Swedish brand’s strategy of increasing production capacity.
Thus, the latest 100% electric model from Volvo will also be produced at the Ghent factory in Belgium. It should be noted that Volvo had already confirmed that the EX30, which is based on the Geely Group’s SEA platform, the same as the smart #1, would be built at its factory in Zhangjiakou, China.
Already available for ordering in Portugal, although the first deliveries are scheduled for early 2024, the EX30 is offered in three versions, based on two powertrain groups and two different types of batteries. The entry-level Single Motor version, available from €37,893, features an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery with a capacity of 51 kWh, designed to power a rear electric motor capable of delivering 272 hp and a maximum torque of 343 Nm, with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds, an electronically limited top speed of 180 km/h, and a range of 344 km.
The intermediate Single Motor Extended Range variant, priced from €43,299, uses the same motor but combined with an NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery with a capacity of 69 kWh, providing a range of up to 480 km and accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds. As for the top-of-the-line Twin Motor Performance version, starting at €49,578, it combines the 69 kWh NMC battery with two electric motors, offering all-wheel drive and a combined output of 428 hp and 543 Nm, with a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.6 seconds, making it the fastest model in Volvo’s history, while maintaining a top speed of 180 km/h and a range of 466 km.
As for charging, when equipped with the FFP battery, the EX30 can receive fast charging up to 134 kW or up to 11 kW in alternating current; while the NMC battery is capable of accepting fast charging up to 153 kW or up to 22 kW in alternating current, which, according to Volvo, allows for 80% of the charge to be recovered in just over 25 minutes. At the same time, whether through the infotainment system’s control screen or the car’s app, the user can also set the “amperage” and maximum charging level, and schedule charging.
