With “tremendous growth” expected for its EVs, Volvo CEO Jim Rowan says the brand is outpacing rivals. Rowan claims Volvo has “much more pricing power” as it rolls out its cheapest EV so far, the EX30, starting at $35,000.
Volvo CEO boasts pricing power for EVs
On Wednesday, Rowan told Reutersat the Global Markets Forum that Volvo sees a growth opportunity in the EV segment.
Volvo’s leader explained, “We have much more pricing power, and people have got more disposable income, so they can afford it if they want to drive an EV.” The comments come as several automakers, like Ford and GM, have scaled back EV investments.
After selling a record 113,419 EVs in 2023 (+70% YOY), Volvo expects to build on its momentum this year.
Volvo’s EVs accounted for 16% of its total sales last year, higher than most rivals and up from 10.9% in 2022.
Rowan has stood by his stance despite others claiming a slowdown in the EV market. When asked about the reported slowdown last month, Rowan said, “We are not seeing any order cancellations or any slowdown in order intake.”
Volvo CEO Jim Rowan during the EX30 reveal (source: Volvo)
An affordable EV for everyone
The brand’s leader confirmed orders for the electric C40 and new EX30 are strong, even in the US. Volvo’s new EX30, starting under $35,000 (36,000 euros), is one of the most affordable EVs on the market. It’s also Volvo’s cheapest (and quickest) vehicle yet.
The electric SUV will be available in two versions: A single-motor extended range and a twin-motor performance model.
Volvo EX30 (Source: Volvo Cars)
The extended range version includes up to 275 miles of range. Although the performance model sacrifices 10 miles range (265 miles), it packs 422 hp and 400 lb-ft torque for 0 to 60mph in 3.4 seconds.
Volvo calls the EX30 a “cornerstone” of its EV plans. The automaker expects the new EV to become one of its “best sellers in the coming years.”
Volvo EX30 interior (Source: Volvo Cars)
Meanwhile, Volvo is also launching its first three-row electric SUV, the EX90. Volvo’s EX90 will start at $76,695 in the US to rival the Rivian R1S and Mercedes EQS.
Volvo was one of the first legacy automakers to commit to an all-electric lineup by 2030. Rowan believes the automaker is “on course” to hit its goal of going all-electric. By 2025, Volvo aims for around 50%, or about 600,000 in sales, to be electric as a halfway target.
Electrek’s Take
Despite a slight slowdown in EV sales last month, Volvo will likely turn things around (quickly) in 2024.
Volvo is rolling out EVs in key segments, including an affordable model (EX30), a three-row electric SUV (EX90). It even launched its first electric minivan in China (EM90). These models will join the already popular C40 and XC40 Recharge in Volvo’s all-electric lineup.
The brand will continue to be one to watch as the market shifts to EVs. Volvo’s early commitment to electrification is already paying off.
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That was more than 50,000 miles ago, and the car is still going strong!
Take a good look at that digital dashboard display up there, and you might notice the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s odometer is sitting pretty at 666,255 km. That’s over 413,990 miles, and the South Korean EV is, reportedly, still racking up miles — and fast! Over at the Facebook Group Mileage Impossible, the car’s owner claimed he covered all those miles in less than three-and-a-half years … which works out to just under 10,000 miles per month! (!!!)
Nearly 400 miles per day
Nearly 10,000 miles/mo.; via Mileage Impossible.
Like any vehicle being driven extreme miles, Hyundai’s excellent IONIQ 5 isn’t perfect. That means a bunch of stuff broke, including the car’s Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), which means it can’t currently be charged on AC (L1/L2) charger. And, while electric cars don’t need oil changes, they do need other types maintenance, and the differential oils and brake fluids have been regularly changed on this car — which, no doubt, has contributed to its longevity.
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The most significant repair to date was the battery replacement at 360,000 miles (almost 55,000 miles ago, by my math). Remarkably, Hyundai covered the cost of the replacement despite the battery being way, way beyond its original 10 year/100,000 mile warranty.
The most impressive part of all this? Even after enduring 360,000 miles and countless fast-charging cycles, the battery reportedly retained 87% of its original health. (!)
Electrek’s Take
The caption reads, “free replacement of battery, motor, and reduction gear at 580,000 km.”
And now, with this 400,000 IONIQ 5, Hyundai has a shining example of the fact that its soon-to-be American-made EVs can go the distance.
Hyundai is still offering 0.99% APR financing for 60 months on all versions of the hot-selling 2025 IONIQ 5, as well as up to $7,500 in Retail Bonus Cash, which (when combined with other incentives in certain markets) can make a huge difference to customers’ bottom line. It doesn’t look like the two offers can be combined, however, so be sure to do the math and see which deal makes the most sense for you.
Porsche is launching a new EV battery recycling pilot to recover valuable raw materials from its cars’ high-voltage battery packs at the end of their useful life in vehicles. The new pilot hopes to develop a “closed-loop” raw material cycle that would have new batteries made from old batteries without the need for new, high carbon cost mineral mining.
With this new initiative, Porsche engineers hope to address the growing importance of recycled battery raw materials and promote the responsible handling of high-voltage batteries at the end of life.
In the long term, a recycling network for EV batteries is planned to be established in collaboration with external partners.
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“With the help of innovative recycling processes, we strive to increase our independence from volatile and geopolitically unstable raw material markets,” says Barbara Frenkel, Executive Board Member for Procurement at Porsche. “Circular Economy is a core pillar of our sustainability strategy, and with this pilot project, we want to underscore our ambitions.”
Three phase plan
“Second Life” concept uses EV batteries as backup power; via Porsche.
Porsche is advancing its commitment to sustainability by embracing the principles of, “reduce, reuse, recycle.” The company is developing more efficient electric vehicles with longer-lasting batteries, which are repurposed in “Second Life” Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) like the one implemented at its Leipzig plant (above). Now, through a new closed-loop recycling pilot, Porsche is emphasizing that “recycle” part by approaching the project in three phases.
In the first project phase, EV batteries from development vehicles are mechanically shredded at the end of their use-phase and processed into “black mass” that contains valuable raw materials like nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium. So far, the program has produced about 65 tons of processed black mass.
In the next phase, the black mass is further separated and refined until the materials reach both the levels of quality and purity Porsche demands from the “virgin” materials it buys for its new batteries.
In the third phase, Porsche takes the raw materials recovered from its decommissioned high-voltage batteries and makes new batteries with them, demonstrating Porsche’s, “holistic understanding of the circular economy.”
Porsche hopes its new pilot will help prepare the company for upcoming regulatory changes – for example, the expected requirements for batteries in the European Union by 2031. By adopting recycled materials early, the company says it intends to make an active contribution to the technology while further reducing its environmental impact.
New 5-passenger G30Es electric golf cart (right); via Yamaha.
Yamaha has announced plans to launch a pair of new five-seater electric golf carts featuring new lithium-ion batteries and vehicle control units developed in-house this June. The launch is scheduled to coincide with the company’s 50 year anniversary in the golf car/golf cart business.
Yamaha Motor launched its first golf cart, the YG292 “Land Car,” in June 1975. That original golf cart was powered by the company’s air-cooled, 292cc 2-stroke snowmobile engine, while its fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite bodywork was developed using the companies maritime and boat-building expertise.
The in-house developed batteries use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry in their cells, with the company claiming higher levels of reliability and an extended lifespan compared to other battery chemistries it’s worked with. The Yamaha batteries are available in both 4 kWh and 6 kWh capacities, enabling buyers to tailor their choice based on their individual driving range requirements, course conditions, and individual play/mobility preferences.
Both new models are 144.5″ (367 cm) long and 49.5″ (125 cm) wide, with an 84.25″ (214 cm) wheelbase, and are powered by an AC motor with, “superior speed and torque control, combined with optimized regenerative braking and a brushless design,” that, according to Yamaha, give the brand’s new golf carts far greater efficiency than the company’s previous models, resulting in 30% better efficiency.
You can check out more detailed pictures of the Yamaha-developed parts and full specs, below, then let us know what you think of the tuning fork brand’s newest mobility products in the comments.