All posts tagged: volvo

Geely prepares revolutionary 500 Wh/kg solid-state EV battery that could beat diesel

Geely prepares revolutionary 500 Wh/kg solid-state EV battery that could beat diesel

Published by skeptic

Geely says its next-generation solid-state EV battery will reach an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg, and it’s already running the cells through real-world validation ahead of a pilot rollout in 2027. That number is the whole story. At 500 Wh/kg, Geely’s cells would hold roughly twice the energy per kilogram of the best lithium-ion battery packs shipping in EVs today. Why 500 Wh/kg is such a big number The best high-nickel NMC cells in production EVs land around 250 to 300 Wh/kg at the cell level. Tesla’s 4680 sits near 245 Wh/kg. LFP cells, the chemistry powering most affordable EVs, come in lower still. At the pack level, once these cells are in modules and pack, the enegery density per kg drops even further. Zeekr’s current “Golden Brick” LFP pack is rated around 128 Wh/kg at the pack level. Advertisement – scroll for more content So a cell at 500 Wh/kg isn’t an incremental gain. It’s a doubling. Doubling energy density changes the math on every EV. You can keep the same range …

Volvo wants to help you save money on car insurance

Volvo wants to help you save money on car insurance

Published by skeptic

It may not be 15 minutes like Geico’s, but Volvo’s new Safety Coach app is designed to help you drive safely while also lowering your car insurance premiums. Volvo launches new app to help lower insurance costs The optional app, launching this month, will give you access to real-time driving insights and tips directly on the vehicle’s infotainment screen and in the Volvo Cars app. Once installed, you will get a personal “Safety Coach score” based on habits such as braking, acceleration, and turning. You will also receive tips to help you become a better, safer driver and improve your score. The tips are based on Volvo’s extensive real-world safety tech and data. Advertisement – scroll for more content “Staying within expected speed ranges and avoiding abrupt maneuvers makes your driving easier for others to anticipate and reduces the risk of a collision,” Mikael Ljung Aust, driver behavior expert at Volvo Cars, said. The new Safety Coach app will initially launch in Sweden and Norway this month. Volvo said most drivers of vehicles from the …

Volvo trademark reveals EX50 EV name: Here’s what we know

Volvo trademark reveals EX50 EV name: Here’s what we know

Published by skeptic

Is the EX50 the name of Volvo’s next electric vehicle? A new trademark was filed, and all signs point to it becoming a production model soon. Volvo trademark reveals EX50 as potential EV name After launching the EX60, Volvo’s longest-range, fastest-charging electric vehicle to date, will the EX50 be next? Volvo filed a trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) under the name EX50 on July 14, 2026. The filing doesn’t reveal much other than the name itself and that it will, in fact, be electric. While Volvo has yet to announce it publicly, the EX50 is expected to be the name of its upcoming EV. Advertisement – scroll for more content During its second quarter earnings last week, Volvo said it was planning to reveal two new electric models at the end of summer. According to Automotive News, Volvo is developing the two new EVs for Europe, but they could also be sold in the US. A source close to the matter told AN that the new models, rumored to be an electric sedan …

Volvo delivers first EX60 EVs, a game changer with 500+ mi range

Volvo delivers first EX60 EVs, a game changer with 500+ mi range

Published by skeptic

The EX60 is a true “game changer” for the Volvo brand, with the first customer deliveries now underway. Volvo begins EX60 EV deliveries “This is a huge moment for us and our customers,” Erik Severinson, Volvo Cars COO, said as the company kicked off customer deliveries on Thursday. The first EX60 models were delivered to customers in Sweden, while Volvo plans to ramp up production and deliveries over the next few weeks and months. After unveiling the EX60 in January, Volvo said the midsize electric SUV is designed to be a “game changer” for the brand as its first foray into the largest EV segment globally. Advertisement – scroll for more content The EX60 is the Swedish automaker’s most advanced electric vehicle yet. As the first vehicle based on its advanced new SPA3 platform, the EX60 can drive further and charge faster than any all-electric Volvo to date. Volvo’s new midsize electric SUV delivers a “best-in-class” WLTP range of up to 503 miles (810 km). On the US EPA scale, the EX60 gets up to …

Volvo wants to shake things up with two new ,000 EVs

Volvo wants to shake things up with two new $50,000 EVs

Published by skeptic

Volvo is pulling its last wagon from the US, but it may not be for long. As it aims to revamp the brand, Volvo may bring two new EVs to America, starting in the low $50,000s. Volvo expands beyond SUVs with EV sedans, wagons Volvo’s station wagon for the US market, the V60 Cross Country, rolled off the assembly line in April 2026. The Swedish automaker already pulled the S90, its only sedan, last year, leaving its lineup, like most, consisting of just SUVs. After the 2026 model year, Volvo will no longer sell wagons or sedans in America, as buyers shift toward larger SUVs and crossovers. However, they may not be gone for too long. Advertisement – scroll for more content According to a new report from Automotive News, Volvo is considering launching two new EVs in the US, including an electric sedan and wagon. A source that was briefed on the matter told AN that the new EVs could arrive at showrooms in 2028. Since both are already being developed for Europe, the …

Volvo Electric semi trucks charge up American Truck Simulator

Volvo Electric semi trucks charge up American Truck Simulator

Published by skeptic

American Truck Simulator’s players can finally get a taste of what it’s like to climb into the cab of a Volvo VNL and VNR Electric semi trucks as the big BEVs become the first-ever electric truck to be featured in the over-the-road driving game. American Truck Simulator has a diverse pool of over 7 million players that includes casuals, truck enthusiasts, and even professional drivers. Unlike most driving games, however, the goal isn’t to win a race – it’s to haul cargo, earn money, buy trucks, and expand your fleet into a full-blown logistics empire. And now, that empire can include some of the most popular electric semi trucks on the road: the Volvo VNL and VNR Electric. “This is a very exciting way to introduce our trucks, both the diesel and the battery-electric version, to millions of truck enthusiasts around the world,” explains Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “American Truck Simulator has built an incredibly passionate community that appreciates great trucks and authentic driving experiences. We’re proud that the most modern trucks …

When the Law Kills Your Electric Car Dealership

When the Law Kills Your Electric Car Dealership

Published by skeptic

Owning a US electric vehicle dealership has been a wild ride in the 2020s. Since Polestar Short Hills opened in northern New Jersey in 2021, it went through a Covid-era demand spike and EV shortage that left some used electrics with higher valuations than new ones; a new federal tax credit of up to $7,500 that brought a new wave of drivers in the door; lower sales volumes after the rollback of that federal tax credit, and the snipping of a state one; and then another wave of buying when EV-curious drivers began running from Elon Musk’s Tesla because of the CEO’s involvement with the Trump administration. Now, Matthew Haiken, who owns that Polestar dealership along with three other (non-Polestar) dealerships in the Prestige Collection Auto Group, faces another and more serious challenge. Polestar said in late June that the US Commerce Department had denied an authorization that would have allowed the brand to continue selling cars in the US despite a federal rule restricting the sale of vehicles with Chinese-made connected-vehicle technology. The company, …

Polestar barred from US over the Chinese connected vehicle rule, a dangerous precedent

Polestar barred from US over the Chinese connected vehicle rule, a dangerous precedent

Published by skeptic

Polestar is pulling new vehicles out of the US market starting with model year 2027 after the Commerce Department declined to grant it authorization under the Connected Vehicle Rule, the company confirmed today. The decision effectively ends new-car sales in the US for the Geely-owned Swedish EV brand — even though one of its models is assembled in South Carolina. What Commerce decided The Bureau of Industry and Security, part of the US Department of Commerce, declined to grant Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) an authorization to sell vehicles in the US from model year 2027 onward under the current Connected Vehicle Rule. The rule, finalized in January 2025, bans connected vehicles with a “sufficient nexus” to China or Russia from the US market, with the software prohibitions taking effect for model year 2027 and hardware restrictions following in 2030. It covers telematics, cameras, microphones, GPS, Bluetooth, cellular modules, and automated driving software across gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles alike. Advertisement – scroll for more content Polestar’s problem is ownership, not where the cars are built. The …

Volvo just made public EV charging a lot less annoying

Volvo just made public EV charging a lot less annoying

Published by skeptic

Photo: Volvo Volvo EX90 drivers in the US can now charge at public charging networks, including Superchargers and IONNA DC fast chargers, without opening an app or pulling out a credit card. Volvo is making public charging easier with the rollout of Plug & Charge, a feature that automatically handles authentication and payment when drivers plug in at participating charging stations. Once Plug & Charge is activated, the vehicle automatically communicates with the charging network to handle authentication and payment. Drivers can plug in and walk away while the charging session starts automatically. For current EX90 drivers, the feature is available now. Volvo notes that 2025 EX90 models need the new NVIDIA Orin/Orin Core computer configuration to support Plug & Charge. Advertisement – scroll for more content With access to over 35,000 charging stations, Volvo says EX90 and future EX60 drivers will be able to easily find Plug & Charge stations. EX90s, which have CCS1 ports, can use Superchargers and IONNA stations with NACS-to-CCS1 adapters. EX60s will feature NACS ports and can use CCS1 to NACS …

Volvo XC60 crashes into a 793-pound moose dummy

Volvo XC60 crashes into a 793-pound moose dummy

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Anyone growing up in rural or suburban areas probably has a story of a family member colliding with some animal scurrying across the road. In the United States alone, an estimated one to two million cars slam into large animals every year. But there’s one creature in particular that poses a greater risk than others: the massive, long-legged moose. The threat that these  hairy tanks (some can weigh over 1,500 pounds) pose to drivers is so great that Volvo, a brand synonymous with safety, built their own life-sized rubber replica. For years, they’ve been sending cars barreling toward this headless moose doppelganger in the name of science. The results have led to important innovations in car safety design, and no shortage of gnarly …