Cutting carbon, not corners: What makes the EX30 Volvo’s most sustainable car yet?

Volvo Cars aims to cut overall CO2 emissions per car by 40 per cent between 2018 and 2025. The new EX30 might be a small car. But it’s a big step in the right direction.

Based on European power grid averages, Volvo Cars calculates that the new EX30’s total carbon footprint over 200,000kms of driving is below 30 tonnes*. That represents a 25 per cent reduction compared to Volvo Cars’ fully electric C40 and XC40 models.

The carbon footprint calculations for electric cars are partly dependent on the power used to charge their batteries. If that power comes from renewable sources, the CO2 is lower. If the power comes from coal and gas-fired power stations, the carbon intensity of that power is higher.

While Volvo Cars can’t control the make-up of national and regional power grids, it has taken control of its own manufacturing processes.

The EX30 will be built in a factory powered by high levels of climate-neutral energy, including 100 per cent climate-neutral electricity.

Plus, 95 per cent of the Tier 1 suppliers within the EX30’s supply chain have committed to 100 per cent renewable power in their production by 2025 – with many already there.

While that reduces the carbon inputs at the beginning of its lifecycle, the EX30 is designed to be recovered to 95 per cent at the end of its life, by recycling the materials and recovering energy from what can’t be recovered.

**Carbon engineering**

Because the car is smaller than its predecessors, it uses fewer materials – less steel, aluminium and plastic to start with. But it also uses a higher proportion of recycled components – around 25 per cent of the aluminium used in the EX30 is recycled, and around 17 per cent of the plastic and steel.

Plus, Volvo has worked to eliminate waste in the production process as well as the car’s design – and less waste tends to mean less carbon.

But for Volvo Cars, it doesn’t mean less safety.

**Safety first, always**

The EX30 is packed with safety tech – from collision avoidance software and sensors to auto-braking functionality. In some situations, it can even steer the car to avoid or mitigate a collision, or stop the car if the car in front stops completely. The pilot assist feature helps with changing lanes and overtaking large vehicles.

Meanwhile the EX30 is designed to detect distracted and drowsy drivers through an infrared sensor tracking the driver’s head and eye movements while a front-facing camera picks up signs of erratic driving and another sensor monitors the steering wheel.

If the driver appears to be getting tired – or distracted – the EX30 is designed to let them know it might be time to take a break.

Plus, a new door opening alert uses rear radars to help prevent doors being opened onto bikes, scooters or joggers – one of the most common causes of city road accidents.

There’s also a new airbag housed at the side of the driver’s seat to help prevent injuries between driver and passenger from a side impact collision, while Volvo Cars has reinforced the chassis and safety cage with high-strength steel that offset the impact from a possible crash. Pillars and roof have also been strengthened.

“We have long had a focus on safety in city environments where cars share space with pedestrians and cyclists,” said Åsa Haglund, the head of Volvo Cars’ Safety Centre. “With the Volvo EX30 we are taking city safety to the next level, creating a small SUV that is your perfect companion for a comfortable driving experience, while it looks after you and other people on the busy streets of modern cities.”

Or as Volvo Cars Global CEO, Jim Rowan put it: “The EX30 delivers on everything you would expect from Volvo.”

*The lifecycle carbon footprint calculation of below 30 tonnes over 200,000 kms of driving is based on usage of charging electricity from the EU27 electricity mix. The lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car is related to globally available products over 200,000 kms of driving. Excludes biofuel vehicles.

- *Future technology and features shown and described, final design and capabilities may vary. Features may not be available in all markets and will not be standard in all markets or for all models.*

- *Driver support functions are not a substitute for the driver’s attention and judgement. Driver remains responsible for safe driving at all times.*