As an industry pioneer in automotive safety for over 60 years, Volvo prepares to lead the electric revolution with its first battery flagship – the upcoming EX90 SUV. Blending sustainability, innovation and Scandinavian sanctuary, this technology tour de force promises to reset expectations on what an electric luxury vehicle can deliver.
Overview: Early Glimpses at the Volvo EX90
Slated to make its worldwide debut on November 9, 2022, Volvo has kept specifics on its new electrified flagship tightly guarded. Yet, early signs point to a vehicle that encapsulates the marque‘s ambitions for an electric future while upholding its legacy of driving protection.
Here is an early glimpse at what industry experts and insiders expect the EX90 to deliver across key areas from performance to cutting-edge safety:
Range and Charging
- Over 300 miles EPA range on a single charge
- 250+ kilowatt fast charging enables hundred miles in minutes
- 800V electrical architecture maximizes charging speeds
Power and Performance
- Dual motor AWD with over 400HP combined
- 4.7 second 0-60 MPH acceleration
- Active rear steering enhances agility and stability
Driver Assistance and Safety
- 8 external cameras, 5 radars and 16 ultrasonic sensors provide 360° visibility
- Interior driver monitoring cameras track eye movements and readiness
- NVIDIA DRIVE platform powers autonomous highway driving coming via OTA update
Battery and Powertrain Technology
- 100+ kWh battery capacity utilizing high-nickel Lithium-ion cell chemistry
- Sophisticated thermal management with liquid cooling maintains optimal temperature
Manufacturing Footprint
- Built in Europe and United States factories equipped for EVs
- Cuts lifetime carbon emissions through sustainable factories and supply chains
Price and Positioning
- Starts under $90,000 cementing flagship status in lineups
- Three expected variants balance accessibility with luxury
This impressive arsenal combines to deliver sustainable mobility without compromises. Yet, customers have come expect no less from a marque that has prided itself on pushing progress for over 90 years.
The Road to the All-Electric EX90 Flagship
Long before Governments mandated emissions regulations or fuel economy standards, Volvo built its reputation on advancing driver safety. Over decades, the term "crumple zones" and even the modern 3-point seatbelt emerged from its engineering labs. Protecting all souls on the road sat firmly at the center of every design decision.
Similarly, a commitment to people and planet now guides Volvo on the roadmap to full electrification by 2030. EX90 represents the next bold step on this carefully orchestrated journey that balances business sustainability with environmental obligations.
2010s: Laying the Foundations
Volvo‘s pivot from combustion started in 2012 by deploying plug-in hybrid tech on the V60. Further hybrids followed on the XC models over the latter 2010‘s. Critically, these vehicles familarized customers with partially electrified drivetrains while the engineering teams honed systems integration skills.
In 2019, Volvo debuted its first mild hybrid utilizing a 48V battery architecture that boosted efficiency through regenerative braking. These important steps paved the technological and manufacturing building blocks for the fully electric chapter ahead.
Today: The Revolution Takes Shape
Receiving its worldwide premiere in 2022, the EX90 forms the spearhead model for Volvo‘s rapidly expanding battery EV portfolio. Sitting proudly as its new flagship, the EX90 debuts cutting-edge hardware and software promising over-the-air upgradeability to add capabilities for years after launch.
Tomorrow: An All-Electric Future
By mid-decade, Volvo promises multiple electric variants across its complete model range from compact crossovers to luxurious sedans. Through economies of scale and maturing technology, the company plans cost parity with ICE vehicles enabling mass adoption. Within this decade, Volvo is firmly committed to only selling zero emissions vehicles and leading customers into this sustainable future.
Crafting the EX90: A Showcase for Safety
As the inaugural representative of Volvo‘s forthcoming generation of electric models, expectations weigh heavy on the EX90 SUV. Luxury, sustainability and technology aside, there exists only one yardstick upon which every Volvo since the first rolled off the production line back in 1927 is judged – that of safety.
"With the EX90 we have the opportunity to approach safety in a brand-new way." – Jim Rowan, Volvo CEO
It is through the lens of maximizing protection that Volvo meticulously engineered EX90 right from the concept stage. Packed with more cameras, radars sensors and computing power than any previous Volvo, the hardware enables cutting-edge accident avoidance and intervention systems for the road ahead.
A Smart Skeleton and Nervous System
Serving as the backbone is Volvo‘s brand-new SPA2 vehicle platform exclusively designed for electric propulsion. Flexible aluminum and composite construction form a strong yet lightweight structure optimized to safeguard occupants using multiple impact channels.
This skeleton supports a sensor suite feeding external environment data to centralized computing power comparable to a high-end gaming desktop. Eight cameras, five radars and sixteen ultrasonic sensors monitor 360-degrees around the vehicle. No blind spots. Software processes vision, objects, lanes, signs and terrain in real time even in darkness or poor weather when human senses fall behind.
LiDAR sensors mounted prominently on the EX90‘s roof grant an extra dimension of depth perception. By scanning with 64 powerful laser beams instead of passive cameras alone, the system reliably detects potential hazards hundreds of meters ahead irrespective of lighting or precipitation.
All this sensory input combines into an intelligent nervous system giving the EX90 an expansive bubble of perception even beyond the driver‘s vision. Vision defines Volvo‘s pathway for eliminating severe injuries or fatalities in an accident.
Guardian Angels: Preventing the Preventable
Yet, avoiding collisions altogether presents the simplest method to safeguard occupants. Through deep learning technology, the EX90 can accurately predict dangerous situations and proactively intervene before harm occurs.
As the conductor of this wheeled orchestra, the driver‘s state proves critical. Inward-facing cameras continuously monitor eye gaze, blink rates and head movements for signs of distraction or drowsiness. Machine learning algorithms running on NVIDIA hardware interpret facial cues to quantify attention levels in real time.
If the system suspects diminishing focus, escalating alerts first encourage the driver to correct course through visual, audible and haptic prompts. As a last resort, these guardian angel systems initiate a controlled stop with hazard lights while contacting emergency assistance if impairment becomes unavoidable.
By fusioning external and internal awareness, Volvo engineers aim to eliminate up to 9% of accidents altogether. But even the best technology cannot override physics, which is why the EX90 reserves one final hand to play.
Collison Mitigation: Preparing for the Inevitable
Once an unavoidable collision proves imminent, the EX90 leverages its milliseconds of foresight to mitigate consequences.Precrash systems instantly prep the chassis and restraints for impact while securing loose objects. Energy absorbing frontal structures channel load predictively to minimize cabin intrusion. Side airbags deploy early to cushion occupants as calculated by real-time trajectory estimation algorithms.
Post-crash, the EX90 stands ready to facilitate aid through integrated communication systems and battery safety disconnects. GPS aware eCall functionality automatically contacts emergency responders with precise incident location even if passengers remain incapacitated.
Engineers benchmarked EX90‘s crashworthiness against Volvo‘s industry-first 3-point belt introduced in 1959. Just as this simple invention halved fatality rates overnight six decades ago, Volvo believes its newest safety showcase car can deliver a similarly staggering 20% reduction in severe injuries via this orchestration of predictive collision avoidance and targeted impact mitigation capabilities.
| Safety System | Injury Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Collision Avoidance | 9% Improvement |
| Pre-crash Preparation | 14% Improvement |
| Energy Absorbing Structures | 17% Improvement |
| Multi-chamber Side Airbags | 12% Improvement |
| Integrated Post-Crash Systems | 8% Improvement |
Validation Through Virtual and Real World Testing
While rivals often demonstrate technology through carefully orchestrated demonstrations, Volvo goes further by quantifying safety efficacy through regimented testing.
Long before physical prototypes roll off the production line, Volvo engineers certify designs against a barrage of simulated collisions with infinitely configurable parameters. Supercomputers mimic years of driving evaluating millions of what-if scenarios from passing cars to crossing moose. Simulations also confirm electrical safety for the large battery capacity while minimizing hazardous thermal events.
Eventually, physical crash testing pushes EX90 prototypes to destructive extremes under controlled lab conditions unachievable on public roads. Frontal, lateral, rollover and offset impacts evaluate robustness while high-speed avoidance maneuvers validate stability assists. Special sled testing propels anthropomorphic crash test dummies of all statures without imperiling human occupants.
This exhaustive validation regime builds confidence that EX90 achieves Volvo‘s highest standards for survivability. Safety remains the one constant yardstick through the company‘s 91 year history – a proud inheritance that the EX90 promises to continue.
