Volvo EX90 to be launched with world’s first EV battery passport

The new Volvo EX90 electric SUV will be launched later this year with the “world’s first EV battery passport.” Volvo will be unveiling an EV battery passport that will show car buyers key information such as the battery’s composition, where its materials come from and its carbon footprint.

Volvo was one of the first established car manufacturers to commit to having an all-electric range by 2030, and it remains committed to that promise.

So far, automakers’ efforts have paid off, with new all-electric vehicles being launched in major markets around the world. Last year, Volvo launched its smallest and most affordable electric car, the EX30. Despite its compact size, the EX30 is already making a big impact.

Volvo sold more than 14,500 EX30 models in the first three months of 2024, surpassing the EC40 (6,000) and closing in on the EX40 (17,400).

The EX30 is already delivering on its promise to be a driver of profitable growth, breaking Volvo’s all-time sales record in March, and Volvo plans to sell the EX30 in more than 90 countries by the end of the year.

Volvo is also due to soon begin production of its flagship three-row electric SUV, the EX90. After being delayed last year, Volvo said production of the EX90 is now scheduled to begin in the first half of 2024.

Volvo EX90 equipped with “world’s first” EV battery passport

Volvo will debut “the world’s first EV battery passport” with the new EX90, the automaker has announced. Reuters Tuesday.

The solution, developed over the past five years by Volvo and British startup Circulor, uses blockchain technology to show buyers information such as the composition of a vehicle’s battery, the origin of its materials, its recycled content and carbon footprint.

From February 2027, battery passports will be mandatory for new electric cars sold in Europe.

Volvo is leading the way, said Vanessa Butani, the company’s global sustainability head. Reuters.

“It’s really important for us to be the pioneer and the leader,” Butani said. By launching three years ahead of schedule, Volvo aims to offer more transparency to buyers as it moves toward an all-electric future.

To view important battery information, simply scan the QR code located inside the driver’s door.

The EX90 will be the first model to feature the new technology, but it will eventually be installed in all Volvo electric vehicles.

Volvo plans to submit a more advanced version to regulators that would include real-time health information for EV batteries, which Circulor CEO Douglas Johnson Poensgen said would cost about $10 per EV over 15 years.

Volvo’s new EX90 will start at $77,000 in the U.S. when it goes on sale this year. The luxury three-row electric SUV will be available in two trim levels: Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance.

The AWD Twin Motor version has 402 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, while the Performance version has 496 horsepower and 671 pound-feet of torque.

Both EX90 models are powered by a 111 KWh battery, giving a driving range of up to 300 miles, and buyers can choose between six- or seven-seater layouts.

Inside the EX90, Volvo’s new 14.5-inch infotainment screen supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the EX90 is available to book now on Volvo’s website.

Electrek’s take

Volvo has announced what it calls the “world’s first” EV battery passport, while other automakers have also released proofs of concept.

Tesla and Audi were among the first automakers to join the Global Battery Alliance’s (GBA) EV Battery Passport Proof of Concept last year.

Tesla has unveiled cobalt labelling on its long-range battery packs manufactured for China, showing that 100% of the cobalt in its battery cells comes from Glencore’s Kamoto Copper Company, while Audi has gone a step further by listing the lithium content.

Polestar, the former Volvo racing team and another Geely-owned automaker, is also working to improve material traceability, and its Polestar 0 project aims to make climate-neutral cars by reducing emissions throughout the supply chain, manufacturing and end-of-life.

The US doesn’t have an EV battery passport mandate, but it could follow the EU’s lead, which could make sense since automakers need to prove the origin of EV battery materials.