Volvo EX30 Now Powers Your Home With New V2L Update

The Baby Volvo Grows Up

When Volvo introduced the EX30 a few years ago, it was uncharted waters for the Swedish automaker. It was its first-ever EV built on a dedicated platform with a little help from its parent company, Geely.

It took a while before it arrived stateside, but prior to that, it had already been a commercial and critical success. Riding high on that, the company has decided that now is a good time to roll out the updated version. On the surface, it's a subtle facelift, but the changes go beyond skin deep.

It..Doesn't Look Any Different

True, although it does get new wheels and color options, so there's that. What Volvo did was change bits of the part you interact with the most, namely, the interior. The EX30's minimalist cabin still appears identical, but it does get a redesigned interface for its infotainment system.

This writer had previously tried out an EX30, and interacting with that touchscreen was, admittedly, not the easiest thing to do. While Volvo didn't say how exactly it redesigned the display, we're hoping that it's easier to navigate compared to the current model.

New this year is the Harvest interior theme that gives the cabin warm and earthy tones to give off a more relaxing vibe. Volvo says it's inspired by 'late Scandinavian summer evenings' thanks to its light and neutral design. Like before, the interior materials are made from recycled PET bottles because sustainability has become a buzzword in recent years. There's also a Black theme that's, er, exactly that. It's pretty much the same as the Black Edition that was shown recently.

Powerbank on Wheels

But the big news here is the addition of Vehicle to Load (V2L) capabilities. It's a significant software upgrade that allows the EX30 to power household appliances, as well as recharge battery-powered mobility devices such as electric scooters and the like. Do note that the V2L adapter doesn't come with the car upon purchase. Instead, it's sold as a separate accessory you can purchase from your dealer.

The best part is that older EX30 models can benefit from the new feature. Volvo will roll it out as an over-the-air update, so those who currently own one won't be missing out. The same goes for the aforementioned infotainment software update. Those new features are standard on the 2027 models and will be available to current owners by summer this year.

A New Base Model

The Volvo EX30 starts at just over $40,000 in the U.S, making it one of the least expensive premium EV crossovers in the land. But over in Europe, buying (or rather, leasing) one is about to be more affordable as the company has added a new entry-level trim. That said, it's unlikely to land in America.

U.S. models start getting 69 kWh batteries as standard, but the new base Euro model gets a smaller 51 kWh pack instead. While the latter is an actual option in other markets, the least expensive version also gets a detuned motor to eke out more miles per charge. So, instead of 268 hp from the RWD Extended Range model, it's down to just 148 hp. It then has a claimed maximum range of 210 miles. There's also an option to pair the low-output motor with the 69 kWh batteries, boosting range to 295 miles.

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