Despite its small size, Volvo’s cheapest EV continued its dominant run last month in Europe. The Volvo EX30 was Europe’s second-best-selling EV, behind only the Tesla Model Y, as sales continued surging.

Volvo EX30 sales continue surging in Europe in August

According to new data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), EV registration in the EU fell by 43.9% in August as the two biggest markets, Germany (-68.8%) and France (-33.1%), saw significant declines.

Despite this, Volvo was one of the bright spots, as overall vehicle sales climbed 36%. With 19,605 vehicles sold last month, Volvo topped Tesla and Fiat to become the fourteenth largest automaker in the EU, UK, and EFTA countries, according to Dataforce.

Volvo’s growth was largely thanks to the new EX30, which added 6,377 in sales to its total. The growth was enough to become Europe’s second best-selling EV, behind only Tesla’s Model Y.

The accomplishment is significant, given Volvo handed over the first EX30 models last December.

Volvo’s global sales rose 3% in August, with 52,944 cars sold. The EX30 was its fourth top-selling vehicle, with 8,346 units sold, behind the XC60 (14,723) and XC40/EX40, which had 10,668 combined sales.

Starting at around 36,000 euros ($40,000), the EX30 is one of Europe’s most affordable EVs. Although due to hit the market later than expected, the EX30 is scheduled to launch in the US next year, starting at $34,950.

The delay comes as the US announced a new 100% tariff on EVs imported from China, where the EX30 is currently built.

Volvo is fast-tracking production at its Ghent, Belgium plant to export EX30 models to the US, enabling it to bypass the additional tariffs.

Electrek’s Take

Will the Volvo EX30 have the same impact in the US? Starting at under $35,000, the small electric SUV will not only be one of the cheapest EVs in the US but also one of the most affordable vehicles (gas-powered or EV) on the market.

According to the latest data from Kelley Blue Book, the average transaction price (ATP) for a new vehicle in the US was $47,870 in August.

Volvo is also launching its flagship electric seven-seater, the EX90 (check out our review of the luxury 7-seat kid-hauler).

Although Volvo’s sales in the US and Canada were down 0.2% through the first eight months, Volvo expects new EVs in key segments to quickly recharge sales.

Source: Automotive News

Chicago-based NanoGraf will build a $175 million factory to produce 2,500 tons of silicon anode material to support up to 1.5 million EVs per year.

NanoGraf’s new factory

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $60 million to the silicon anode battery company to help build its factory under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

NanoGraf’s project is one of 25 selected across 14 states to receive a portion of the over $3 billion in grants that the DOE announced today. These grants aim to strengthen domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials in the US.

NanoGraf will use the grant, in addition to its own capital, to retrofit an existing factory in Flint, Michigan. It will be one of the world’s largest silicon anode facilities, significantly boosting US efforts to onshore the battery supply chain. The company says its advanced silicon anode battery material enables stronger, lighter, and longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries.

The Flint factory is NanoGraf’s third battery material factory and increases the company’s total manufacturing footprint to over 414,000 square feet. NanoGraf currently produces silicon anode material for the US military out of two Chicago-based manufacturing facilities, including a new R&D facility at 455 N Ashland Avenue and its headquarters at 400 N Noble Street.

The project will create approximately 200 construction jobs through a project labor agreement with the North American Building Trades Union. Up to 150 new permanent jobs will be created for operations, and around 80% are expected to come directly from the local community.

NanoGraf has signed a neutrality agreement with the United Steelworkers and says it’s committed to partnering with them should a majority of employees wish to unionize. 

Electrek’s Take

In November 2022, Connor Hund, chief operating officer at NanoGraf, and I discussed a $10 million Department of Defense contract that the company had secured.

Hund told me that the company’s 18-month contract with the DoD allowed it to scale up domestic production in a careful and deliberate way so that it could lay the groundwork for the next stage of supplying domestically produced batteries to the EV market by 2024. 

NanoGraf doesn’t say when it intends to open the Flint factory, but it’s certainly moving toward the next-stage goal that it set in a timely fashion. A huge domestically made lithium-ion battery factory is a welcome thing. 

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