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Volvo is gradually unveiling details about its forthcoming midsize electric SUV, the EX60, ahead of its official launch on January 21st. Promising an estimated range of 400 miles, or 810 kilometers according to the European WLTP standard, the EX60 sets a new benchmark for Volvo’s electric vehicles. This range surpasses any of Volvo’s previous EV offerings, at least until the anticipated release of the ES90 sedan, which is expected to boast a 434-mile range. The EX60 marks a milestone as it will be the first model to incorporate Volvo’s innovative megacasting production process, aimed at reducing weight and enhancing manufacturing efficiency.
“Our goal was to develop an electric vehicle without compromises,” explained Akhil Krishnan, who heads the EX60’s program management. “We wanted choosing to drive electric to be a seamless decision, without any drawbacks,” he added.
To achieve this, Krishnan and his team focused on extending the vehicle’s range and improving charging times. Their aim was to transform “range anxiety” into “range comfort,” ensuring that drivers have ample range so that it becomes a non-issue, much like how tank size is not a primary concern when selecting gasoline cars.
However, offering impressive range is only part of the equation; rapid charging capabilities are equally crucial. Krishnan pointed out that thorough customer research revealed that many electric vehicle owners often feel constrained by the need to plan their schedules around lengthy charging stops, which can last 40 minutes or more. Volvo’s vision for the EX60 is to seamlessly integrate charging into natural breaks, such as a quick 10-minute pause for coffee or restroom use, during which the vehicle should be ready to hit the road again.
The EX60 is designed to meet these expectations with its cutting-edge 800-volt architecture, a first for Volvo. This technology, already adopted by other manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia, has helped them stand out amid fluctuating demand for electric vehicles due to their swift charging capabilities. With this architecture, the EX60 can charge from 10 to 80 percent in a mere 19 minutes or gain an additional 168 miles of range in just 10 minutes when using a 400kW fast charger.
But range alone is not enough; charging speed was also critical
Of course, finding a charger that can produce such speeds could be a problem, especially here in the US — but it’s certainly getting better. Krishnan said that Volvo’s aim is to deliver excellent charging performance not only on 400kW chargers but also on more common 250kW units.
The vehicle is built on Volvo’s new SPA3 platform, designed exclusively for electric vehicles, without any legacy constraints from combustion engines. The EX60 isn’t relying on any battery breakthroughs to achieve its improved range — the nickel-cobalt-manganese chemistry is the same as the rest of the EV lineup — but rather advancements in manufacturing, like megacasting and the use of a structural battery pack, to reduce weight and improve the vehicle’s integrity. It will also include battery preconditioning so the battery is at the right temperature for optimal charging to help sustain those higher speeds.
The new platform enables not just weight savings but also cost reductions, with estimated component-level savings of 20–35 percent, helping keep pricing competitive with gas and hybrid equivalents, Krishnan said. Volvo has said it intends to price the EX60 at around the same as the XC60 plug-in hybrid, which right now starts at around $63,000.
Volvo is also offering for the first time a global 10-year battery warranty covering up to 240,000km. This extends the company’s previous eight-year coverage and, according to Krishnan, reflects confidence in its in-house battery development and manufacturing capabilities.
The EX60 will have other tricks up its sleeve, too, including vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid functionality as standard across all markets and trims. Volvo has already announced a partnership with Swedish energy provider Vattenfall to explore how the EX60 and other Volvo EVs can help stabilize and balance the grid.
Krishnan sees the EX60 as a critical piece that was missing from Volvo’s EV strategy: a family SUV that’s more affordable than the automaker’s three-row, $80,000-plus EX90. “So it’s a very big addressable market for the car,” he said.
The EX60 will be built in Volvo’s Gothenburg factory, with production set to begin in the first half of 2026.
