All electric Volvo EX90 debuts with 517hp and 600km range

Electric cars are no longer just cars, Volvo made sure of it with its latest all-electric flagship EX90. With all its futuristic safety systems it is probably the safest place on Earth, it looks after passengers, it cleans the air of allergens, it won’t hurt any squirrels thanks to its advanced LiDAR and it can power a house in case of a blackout.

The initially available EX90 version comes with a 111kWh battery pack - in another first for the automotive world, the entire supply and production process and all materials used for the battery are fully traceable. Battery is manufactured using renewable energy and supports up to 250kW DC charging, allowing you to add 180km of range in just 10 minutes. The charge from 10 to 80% takes 30 minutes, while a fully charged battery can travel for up to 600km.

In the performance version two electric motors of the permanent magnet type power all four wheels with a combined 517hp and 910Nm of torque. Volvo has not released the performance figures yet, but you can be sure, the EX90 won’t be a slouch with this much power.

The 600km quoted WLTP range is for the twin-motor 300kW (408hp) version of the car, but Volvo did not provide any more details about this drivetrain option yet.

Volvo EX90 supports bi-directional charging and the company is expanding the equipment range available to customers with home chargers and energy management systems that foresee the car as an integral part of a household. Using the EX90 as a backup for your home in case of blackouts is no longer a gimmick, it is yet another safety feature from Volvo.

Volvo touts the EX90 as the safest car the company has ever built and it’s hard to argue. The safety equipment list includes high-definition LiDAR capable of seeing 250 meters ahead of the car, there are 16 additional sensors all over the car. The set of cameras compliments the entire system run by NVIDIA DRIVE and Volvo’s own software.

The driver assistance works to mitigate dangers inside the car too as it constantly monitors the driver. Any signs of distraction result in gentle prompts first and if no reaction from the driver is recorded, the vehicle can safely pull over and stop and then call for help.

The NVIDIA DRIVE AI in the EX90 is using both Orin and Xavier platforms, the car’s infotainment is run by Snapdragon 8155 using software designed by Volvo and Qualcomm together. Graphics are supplied by Epic Games and its Unreal Engine is responsible for probably the best user experience in any car at this moment.

The large center screen is 14.5 inches across and it comes with Google and Apple services built-in. Google Maps and Google Assistant are native, Google Play is onboard and so is the wireless Apple CarPlay. 5G LTE connection is standard to provide uninterrupted internet access and the Bowers & Wilkins audio system comes with Dolby Atmos for a truly immersive experience thanks to its 25 speakers.

You won’t need keys for your EX90, all you need is your phone to jump in and drive. The car recognizes individual drivers and stores their profiles allowing it to adjust everything and be ready for personal experience within seconds from the moment the driver approaches the door.

Pop the door open and everything is the way you like it, no more seats in the wrong position, no more weird music that your spouse listens to and the temperature exactly the way you like it.

Volvo is really pushing the recycling agenda and the new EX90 uses 15% recycled steel and 25% reclaimed aluminum. Recycled plastics and bio-based materials make up a further 48 kilograms or 15% of total plastic used in the car.

The interior is a pinnacle of Scandinavian design - light and bright but cozy. With everything you need within an easy range and with absolutely no distractions. Fabrics used in the car are made from recycled bottles, the wood comes from responsibly managed forests in Sweden and Finland.

If you choose the wool fabric for the seats, it will come from a specially chosen supplier with highest standards of animal welfare. In plain speak - the sheep have a jolly good time dancing around the lush green fields while listening to classical music and are kindly asked to give up their wool rather than being sheared brutally as their cousins from normal farms.

There is so much going for the new EX90 it takes time for all the details to sink in. The new headlights mimic an eye and they open to reveal the driving lights and close when only DRL are needed. This new feature apparently can be used to wink at people.

As Volvo releases more details, we will be sure to update all the specifications. For now you can enjoy a replay of the unveiling if you have missed it. The EX90 will be available from next year, but the company is yet to specify which markets will get it first.

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