The new Volvo EX30 is the essence of everything that is great about Volvo cars: a fully electric small SUV ideal for contemporary life, designed to be safe and have a lower CO2 footprint than any Volvo .
The decision to address the issue of emissions during the production and life cycle of the Volvo EX30 has allowed its carbon footprint to be reduced to less than 30 tonnes after a useful life of 200,000 km. This is 25% less than the fully electric C40 and XC40 models, a good step towards the goal of reducing total CO2 emissions per vehicle by 40% between 2018 and 2025.
As a 100×100 electric car, the Volvo EX30 is free of exhaust emissions, which not only contributes to reducing the CO2 footprint. The benefits on air quality can also be significant: for example, recent research from the University of Southern California found that even a small increase in driving electric cars in a given area had a direct impact on the number of emergency room visits for asthma. has a positive impact.
But electrification isn’t enough to reduce a car’s total carbon footprint. A vehicle is not just driven; It is also designed, developed, manufactured and shipped, and each of these steps provides opportunities to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“The new EX30 is a big step in the right direction for our sustainability plans,” said Anders Krüberg, the company’s global head of sustainability. “Our target for 2025 is to reduce total CO2 emissions per vehicle by 40% compared to 2018 levels. To do this, we will reduce exhaust gas emissions by 50% and those from our operations by 25%. Raw materials sourcing and supply chain, all of this is another step towards our aspiration of becoming a zero climate impact company by 2040,” he added.
Recycled content everywhere
Using optimization as the guiding principle of sustainable design, Volvo has succeeded in combining the various functions of its EX30’s interior into a single component, reducing the number of parts without compromising functionality.
How is the Volvo EX30’s CO2 footprint reduced by 75% compared to our current electric model? First, by designing a smaller vehicle, which means less material is needed to build it. Since aluminum and steel are the two largest contributors to CO2 emissions during the production process, this is where we can make a big difference.
But the new small SUV doesn’t just need less steel and aluminum: It also uses more recycled materials in its construction. Around 25% of the aluminum and 17% of the steel used in the construction of the Volvo EX30 comes from recycling, further reducing the environmental impact of these materials.
The same criteria are maintained inside the vehicle, as the most durable component is the one that is not present. Using optimization as the guiding principle of sustainable design, Volvo engineers have succeeded in combining the various functions of the Volvo EX30’s interior into a single component, reducing the number of parts without compromising functionality.
The materials used in the Volvo EX30 are another factor contributing to a more sustainable way of building new vehicles. Approximately 17% of all plastic items, from interior components to exterior bumpers, are made from recycled plastic, the highest percentage used in a Volvo vehicle to date.
Another step towards climate neutrality
Another important area for reducing emissions is the manufacturing and supply chain, for example through the use of clean energy. The Volvo EX30 will be built in a plant powered by high levels of climate-friendly energy, including 100% climate-neutral electricity.
With regard to the supply chain, the group has worked closely with its first-in-class suppliers of this vehicle and 95% of them have committed to using climate-friendly renewable energy exclusively in their production processes by 2025 . And many of them are already doing it. This reflects the brand’s aspiration to not only reduce emissions from its operations, but also encourage partners across its wider supply chain to do the same.
Above all, the production process of the Volvo EX30 has been streamlined in several ways. This means that it represents one of the highest material utilization rates in stamped body parts during automobile manufacturing.
And as the challenge of material traceability remains a concern, particularly as it pertains to the manufacture of the Volvo EX30 battery, Volvo is using blockchain technology to track critical raw materials (currently Lithium, Manganese, etc.) continues to do. , cobalt, graphite and nickel).
Smarter and more durable materials
Denim in particular is a good example of how to use the material more wisely and in a sustainable way.
Inside, a wide variety of recycled and renewable materials have been used for the seats, dashboard and doors, including a blend of denim, linen and wool that also contains approximately 70% recycled polyester.
To create denim interiors, fibers are selected that would otherwise be a waste product from the recycling process of this fabric. When jeans are recycled, the short fibers are spun into yarn, and the long fibers are intertwined. Although the tiny fibers are often thrown away as trash, Volvo has saved them.
Downsizing without compromise
This all adds up to a vehicle whose CO2 impact is approximately 18 tonnes “cradle to gate”. This expression, derived from the English “cradle-to-gate”, describes the CO2 impact of a car from the time it is extracted from the raw materials until it arrives at the dealership, ie before it is put into circulation.
The EX30 is designed so that up to 95% can be recovered at the end of its useful life, recycling materials and recovering energy from elements that cannot be used.
In short, the Volvo EX30 offers its users new possibilities to reduce their personal CO2 impact without sacrificing safety, driving comfort or convenience. It’s better for the driver and less harmful to the environment.
The new Volvo EX30 will be unveiled on June 7 and will be already available for order or reservation in some markets on the same date.
