Volvo’s reputation for automotive innovation is about to get another shot in the arm - because its new electric EX90 SUV will feature cutting-edge ‘bi-directional charging’ capabilities.
If you don’t have a clue what that means, fear not, because we’re here to run you through the science.
Let’s start with the fully-electric EX90 itself, which will replace the current XC90 in due course.
(Volvo XC90, above)
It’s being officially unveiled by Volvo on November 9th this year, and the Scandinavians have been dropping some telling teases about what it’s going to be capable of.
It’ll have, as standard, state-of-the-art LiDAR - aka ‘Light Detection and Ranging’ - remote sensing to warn you about impending dangers.
The EX90 will also have a new ‘driver understanding system’, which monitors those behind the wheel and steps in to provide ‘assistance if needed’. You won’t get away with picking up your phone while driving in an EX90, that’s for sure.
And it’s all part of Volvo’s mission to deliver a future where ‘no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car’.
Volvo reckons the LiDAR alone can reduce serious accidents by up to 20 per cent.
And then there’s bi-directional charging - a fancy way of saying that you can use your car like a big battery, harnessing the power for both your home and for things like camping trips.
So, the energy you put into the car when you plug it in can also flow back into your property.
Olivier Loedel, Head of Electrification Ecosystem at Volvo Cars, says:
“With the Volvo EX90 you can power your life.
“You could use its battery in many ways, from topping up your electric bike when you’re out and about, to hooking up an outdoor cooking appliance for your weekend camping trip. It could even power your house during the expensive peak hours of the day.”
You might, for example, charge your EV during the day with solar energy from the panels on your roof.
And then, when it gets dark, you could use the power stored in your car to light your house.
It’s about self-sufficiency and easing the burden on the national grid - as well as potentially reducing your energy bills in the long run.
Volvo isn’t the first to pioneer the tech - you can also find it with some versions of the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. But it might just be that it’s the EX90 that really puts it on the map.
It might also be particularly attractive for people who want to ‘sell energy back’ to the National Grid during peak hours usage when there’s more demand.
A Volvo spokesperson also reckons it could make the Grid less volatile, adding:
“That could increase the overall sustainability of the grid by reducing potential energy waste from renewable sources at times when production outperforms demand.
“Imagine this scenario: you come home from work with plenty of energy left in the battery, which has earlier been charged with cheaper and cleaner electricity. During the evening, your car can be plugged in and discharge energy when electricity prices are higher.
“Since energy is generally cheaper when climate-neutral sources are contributing more to the power supply, this energy transaction can save money on your energy bill and give back cleaner energy to the grid at the same time.”
What’s more, you can also lend a hand to other Volvo drivers - or accept help from them when you’re about to run out of charge.
To use the bi-directional charging features you’ll need an advanced wallbox and home energy management system. Meanwhile other accessories, such as adapter plugs for appliances and cables for charging other cars, will also be available.
We’ll bring you more about the EX90 when it gets its official launch next month.
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