THE BREAKDOWN
- It will have up to 400 miles of electric range.
- Fast-charging at 400 kW will be available.
- 10 minutes of charging will bring 173 miles of range.
It’s been nearly a year since Volvo gave us our first taste of the EX60, and now the wraps are finally coming off. Ahead of its imminent release, the electric crossover has been subjected to a comprehensive teaser campaign that has revealed several design details. The preview images feel familiar to anyone acquainted with the larger EX90.
That’s to be expected, given that Volvo’s design language is still fresh and the company isn’t likely to shake things up anytime soon. In keeping with the three-row EX90, the EX60 will minimize conventional switchgear, with most functions accessed through a tablet-style touchscreen protruding from the dashboard.
In the buildup to today’s premiere, Volvo has also shared key technical specifications. Riding on the SPA3 platform, the EX60 is said to travel up to 400 miles on a single charge. This estimate is based on the EPA test cycle, while the company quotes an 810-kilometer range under the more lenient WLTP standard.
The 800-volt electrical system supports 400-kW charging, which should enable the battery to gain 173 miles of range in just 17 minutes. In Europe and other WLTP markets, a ten-minute charge is said to add 340 kilometers of range. Volvo says it developed the charging software in-house, claiming a “quick coffee stop” will be enough to recharge the battery and get back on the road.
Volvo has also engineered its own electric motors and will use mega-casting for the first time in a production vehicle. Using mega-casting will slash weight by replacing hundreds of smaller components with a single large piece. Built on a dedicated EV platform, the EX60 is being touted as a “no-compromises electric car.”
Volvo EX60 teasers
Motor1’s Take: Volvo may have walked back its plan to go fully electric by 2030, but its leadership still believes EVs will take over in the next decade. As the company’s longest-range electric vehicle yet, the EX60, paired with fast-charging capability, could convince more buyers to move away from combustion engines.
The stakes are high for the EX60, as it will sit alongside the gas-powered XC60, Volvo’s best-selling model of all time. Hopefully, the Geely-owned brand has done its homework and ironed out the software ahead of launch, avoiding a repeat of the EX90’s early issues, which was initially plagued by software bugs.
