Volvo’s next electric car will be a small SUV that shares its parts with the new Smart #1
- Range of around 280 miles expected
- EX30 to sit below XC40 Recharge in lineup
- Due to arrive in 2024
With the new Volvo EX90 range-topper set to make its debut soon, Volvo is already looking for ways to further expand its electric car lineup. Thanks to a recently registered trademark, we now know it’s likely the next electric car from the Swedish brand will be called the Volvo EX30.
While we previously were unaware of its name, we knew that a small electric SUV was on the cards, thanks to an interview with Volvo’s CEO Hakan Samuelsson from our sister publication, Auto Express. Speaking a few months ago, Samuelsson said: “We’ve said the next new electric car is really the successor of our SUV flagship, after that there will be a smaller SUV, and that’s what we’re talking about here. It’s very likely it will be made in China, yes.”
Given Volvo’s current model numbering system, we expect the new EX30 to sit below the C40 and XC40 Recharge in the lineup. Size-wise, it will be comparable with the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric, as well as the Smart #1, with which it will share many of its parts.
Volvo is owned by Chinese conglomerate Geely, which also has stakes in several other automotive brands such as Smart. The new Smart #1 SUV sits on the company’s Sustainable Experience Architecture Entry (SEA-E) platform, and it's likely this will also underpin the upcoming EX30.
The Smart #1 utilises a 66kWh battery that provides a range of up to 273 miles on a single charge; the baby Volvo will likely share this setup and with a few aerodynamic and mechanical tweaks, a range of up to 280 miles could be possible. All Smart #1s also come with 150kW fast charging capability – something that’s likely to come to the EX30, too – meaning a 10-80% charge can be completed in under 30 minutes when connected to a compatible public fast charger.
So when can we expect the new car to arrive? We are yet to spot any prototypes out and about on public roads, so it's safe to say that it’ll be a while before we can walk into a showroom and buy a new EX30 – a release date sometime in 2024 seems possible. Given Volvo’s premium status, we expect the new car to cost more than the equivalent Peugeot e-2008 when it finally goes on sale, likely matching the Smart #1’s circa-£35,000 base price.
Keyword: New Volvo EX30 set to rival the Hyundai Kona Electric