The new Volvo EX60: how our electric game changer breaks new ground in sustainability

The new, fully electric EX60 is designed to be a game changer. It delivers class-leading range, charges as fast as a regular stop for coffee and fuel, and is priced in line with our best-selling plug-in hybrid XC60. Importantly, it does all this while pushing our sustainability ambitions forward, achieving the lowest carbon footprint for a fully electric Volvo car* and on par with the much smaller EX30.

By 2040, we aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. And becoming an electric car maker is a great step in the right direction as we work to continuously lower the carbon footprint of our cars and our operations, but that's only one part of the equation.

To truly lower the carbon footprint of our cars, we also need to address manufacturing, supply chain and material use. In each of these areas, the EX60 pushes the envelope further. This means you can enjoy a spacious and comfortable premium SUV, with the added benefit of zero tailpipe emissions while driving and a lower carbon footprint.

Climate-neutral manufacturing
Let’s start with manufacturing and supply chain. The EX60 is built at our Torslanda plant just outside Gothenburg in Sweden. It is a fully climate-neutral factory, using manufacturing processes that reduce material waste, shorten supply chains and use lower-impact materials.

The EX60 is also the first car built at Torslanda using mega casting. This process replaces hundreds of stamped parts with one single-casted part, made from 50 per cent recycled aluminum. It reduces material waste, lowers overall production costs and complexity, cuts the weight of the car, and makes both the supply chain and production process more efficient.

Recycled, high-quality materials
Speaking of materials: the EX60 sets new standards in our use of recycled and low-carbon material. In fact, it contains the highest amount of recycled content of any electric Volvo we’ve ever built, without compromising on quality, safety or durability.

Under its sleek and elegant surface, the EX60 incorporates 49 per cent recycled aluminum. It is also the first commercially available car in the world to contain SSAB Zero steel, created by our partner and Swedish steel maker SSAB with virtually zero carbon emissions in the steelmaking process. The carbon footprint for these SSAB Zero steel components is 70 per cent lower than conventional steel.

800 volts = better performance
Responsible material sourcing also applies to the EX60’s battery cells, which contain 30 per cent recycled metals. More importantly, for you as a customer our new battery technology delivers a wealth of performance and efficiency benefits.

For example, the EX60 is equipped with an 800-volt electric system, which enables faster charging, more efficient energy use, and better overall battery performance. And because the battery is integrated into the car’s floor with the help of our so-called ‘cell-to-body’ technology, we can lower the weight of the car and improve its structure. The benefit is a car that both provides excellent handling and goes further than any electric Volvo before.

Passport, please
Ambitious sustainability targets require transparency. That’s why the EX60 comes with a digital battery passport, allowing you to learn more about the origins of the battery, its service history, the percentage of recycled content, as well as raw materials inside it. You simply scan the QR code on the inside of the door with your smartphone to access it. With the battery passport, we increase transparency and align with upcoming legislation.

For us, such information is crucial as we work to help ensure a responsible, third-party verified logged history for materials used inside. But we also want to share that data with customers, so you can feel comfortable knowing that we are committed to ethical business practices.

Read more in the Carbon Footprint Report
For even more sustainability-related data, you can explore the EX60 Carbon Footprint Report. It contains a wealth of third-party verified data on the car’s carbon footprint across its entire lifecycle, from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to usage, recycling and second-life applications.

All this means the EX60 has the same carbon footprint as the much smaller EX30. Given its size, capabilities and range, that’s a great achievement for our new electric mid-size SUV. To find out which EX60 is the best choice for you, explore our product page.

*When charged with a European electricity mix.