Volvo is readying an all-electric luxury saloon called the ES90 for the market, and as part of the build-up to the grand reveal of the car on March 5, the Swedish company has revealed the newcomer will have 800-volt electrical architecture.
What, precisely, does that mean?
It will give the Volvo ES90 the ability of super-fast charging and impressive overall range stats. The company claims that the big saloon will be capable of going more than 700km for every full charge of its battery it receives, but better still, at its maximum DC capacity of 350kW, you’ll theoretically be able to add a huge 300km of range to the ES90’s trip computer for every ten minutes you have it hooked up to an ultra-rapid unit. It’s not just the high-power architecture but also improved battery management software and hardware that makes this long-leggedness possible.
Has Volvo not used 800-volt tech before?
No, all of its EVs have been on 400-volt platforms, including the recently released EX90 SUV, and the same goes for all the Polestars we’ve seen so far. However, this 800-volt platform will now underpin the next generation of Volvo’s zero-emissions products, as well as forming the basis of the Polestar 5 and 6 models.
Why can 800-volt tech sustain these higher charging speeds?
It has taken a complete re-engineering of Volvo’s components to make this technology work, as everything on the ES90 - the battery cells, e-motors, inverter, charging set-up, climate control and thermal management systems - have had to be upgraded to cope with the increased difference in potential energy. But the benefit of a higher voltage EV is that it can deliver more power, in kW, than a 400-volt car, but at exactly the same level of electrical current. This means the system generates less heat, meaning your battery can be charged faster without overloading the electrical circuits.
Are there any other benefits to the upgrade?
Well, Volvo has made the e-motors and some other components lighter, which helps to keep the overall kerb weight of the ES90 down, although given it will have a huge 106kWh battery pack, then don’t expect the Swedish machine to come in the right side of two tonnes. Nevertheless, if you can get a 10-80 per cent top-up in just 20 minutes - Volvo citing this as a 30 per cent reduction in its fastest charging times currently - then you’re happy to take that weight hit.
Incidentally, the adaptive charging software the ES90 will use comes from Breathe Battery Technologies, which is a company Volvo invested in last year through its Tech Fund, a corporate venture capital arm. Furthermore, Volvo has made the use of sustainable materials one of its top priorities, and so the ES90 is packed with recycled and natural materials that result in lower CO2 commitments during production - for example, 29 per cent of all aluminium and 18 per cent of all steel used in the ES90 is recycled, while the content levels of recycled polymers and bio-based materials are 16 per cent. Even the trim panels in the cabin are made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood.
And this dedication to sustainability even extends to the battery pack, as the ES90 comes with what Volvo calls its ‘battery passport’. This uses blockchain technology to track raw materials used in the cells, the passport telling owners precisely from where the lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite used in the power pack originated. It also highlights the CO2 footprint of making the full battery pack and other relevant environmental information.
Anything else to add?
Anders Bell, the chief engineering and technology officer for Volvo, said: “Our 800-volt technology marks another significant technological upgrade for our customers as we move towards full electrification. It makes our electric cars even more efficient, helps you charge your electric Volvo faster and go further on a single charge.”
The new Volvo ES90 will be revealed to the world on March 5, with a full live stream of the event available at es90event.volvocars.com.