- Powered by 800-volt technology
- Driving range of up to 700 kilometres
The upcoming Volvo ES90 will have an 800-volt electric system that allows it to go farther, and charge faster than any Volvo EV before. According to the Swedish carmaker, the ES90 can add 300 kilometres of range in 10 minutes at 350kW fast-charging stations, offering a driving range of up to 700 kilometres under the WLTP testing cycle.
To create the new 800-volt system, every component in the electric system has been upgraded for enhanced compatibility, including the battery cells, e-motors, inverter, charging, as well as climate and thermal systems. A higher-voltage system means that it can deliver more power (in kilowatts, or kW) and range with the same current as a 400-volt system. This approach generates less heat, implying that the battery can be charged faster up to 350kW, without overloading the electric system.
Volvo says its new in-house-developed battery management software delivers a more robust charging experience. Compared to other Volvo EVs, the new software shaves off 30 per cent of the time elapsed to charge the ES90 from 10 to 80 per cent, effectively coming down to 20 minutes. The ES90 will be revealed globally on 5 March.
