Volvo electric cars: more range and faster charging in the future

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First information on generation 2 and 3 of the Swedish electric cars

Volvo electric cars: more range and faster charging in the future-faster

At its "Tech Moment" event on Wednesday yesterday, Volvo not only has the Volvo Concept Recharge presented, but also reveal details about the platforms used in the future. The production version of the design study belongs to the second generation of Volvo electric cars.

Even these cars based on a dedicated electric platform will have cells with a higher energy density and offer shorter charging times:

"The second generation of Volvo electric cars, including the first SUV on a new technology platform designed exclusively for electric drive, is already driving with improved lithium-ion batteries that offer more range and shorter charging times." (Volvo)

The second generation is apparently only a temporary solution, because a third generation is to start as early as the middle of the decade, i.e. in about four years. Then the battery pack will serve as a structural element in the vehicle floor – apparently in line with a cell-to-chassis strategy. This CTC approach will further increase the range because the battery replaces structural body panels.

As recently announced, Volvo will be working with the Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt in the future. The joint venture aims to develop batteries with a very high volumetric energy density by 2030:

The aim of the cooperation is to "increase the energy density in the battery cells in the near future by up to 50 percent compared to the batteries currently on the market. Volvo Cars also wants to reach the milestone of 1,000 watt hours per liter this decade (Wh / l) Cracking energy density to enable real ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers. The current charging times are to be almost halved by the middle of the decade thanks to better battery technology and continuous improvements to software and fast charging technology. "

The Volvo C40 Pure Electric offers 150 kW charging power; you should be able to charge it to 80 percent in about 40 minutes. Halving the charging times would mean that the battery can be charged in 20 minutes. That would be a loading speed similar to that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with its 350 kW charging power, which should be increased from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes.

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Presumably an 800-volt system is required for this. This technology is offered by the SEA platform from Volvo's parent company Geely. Geely has also announced a range of up to 1,000 km for these. But Volvo does not reveal whether this platform is actually being used.

As reported, the Volvo-Northvolt joint venture will also produce the batteries. The battery cells are to be produced with green electricity. This should also be achieved by 2025 for the batteries that Volvo receives from other battery manufacturers.

In addition, Volvo is currently examining second-life applications for the used batteries, for example in stationary energy storage. According to this, the batteries are to be "recycled by authorized specialist companies" – unlike VW, for example So Volvo doesn't want to start recycling itself. but rather wants to cooperate with specialist companies similar to Renault. A close cooperation partner is Northvolt, whose established recycling process Volvo can fall back on.

The production version of the Volvo Concept Recharge is also said to have the capability of bidirectional charging Electricity from the vehicle battery can be fed into the domestic power grid so that it can be used when the electricity prices in the public grid are currently high.

Volvo Cars' electrification strategy involves the in-house development and production of batteries, electric motors and relevant software in collaboration with strategic partners, according to Volvo. Apparently, the Swedish manufacturer wants to increase vertical integration, so that the added value remains in-house (or at least in a joint venture) – whereas so far it mostly goes to Asia, where most car manufacturers buy their batteries.

Let's summarize:

  • Volvo will soon be introducing a second generation of electric cars with the production version of the Recharge Concept. The cells should have a higher energy density and can be charged more quickly.
  • Generation three with cell-to-chassis technology and even better range will follow as early as 2025. The batteries should also be able to be charged twice as quickly as currently. They probably need 800-volt technology for this, and it is likely that these vehicles will use Geely's SEA platform at the latest.

Volvo also published two interesting videos. With the first one, it is clear that it is about the recharge concept, as the silhouette proves. The video clearly shows the seventeen battery modules – eight pairs and a single module at the front. The prismatic cells contained in the modules are also clearly visible. It is also interesting that the monitors for the camera rearview mirror are included. Accordingly, these will probably also be included in the series. It remains unclear what the huge, black center tunnel is used for:

The second video should also show the recharge concept, although we are not so sure here, as it shows the vehicle in white. But here, too, the seventeen modules are recognizable and in one shot the silhouette of the design study can be seen on the right. What is certain, however, is that this is the same car that Volvo recently presented to us as the all-electric successor to the XC60 announced.

Knowing the videos will make it easier to understand the pictures that Volvo publishes with its press release. Presumably these are simply screenshots from the animations above:

Picture gallery: Volvo Tech Moment: pictures of future electric generations

Volvo electric cars: more range and faster charging in the future-electric

Volvo electric cars: more range and faster charging in the future-faster Volvo electric cars: more range and faster charging in the future-charging

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