Volvo presents first electric van
Volvo declared several years ago that it was in the process of making a significant electric shift. After the release of a few EVs around the world, including the C40 and the upcoming EX30 here in Canada, the manufacturer has just lifted the veil on an electric van. This first van for the company, nicknamed EM90, will only be reserved for the Chinese market when it launches, but Volvo says it will also be offered elsewhere in the world.
A “living room in motion”
Volvo notes very explicitly that the EM90 will be a very forgiving minivan. To give a clear description of its ambitions, the manufacturer speaks of a “living room in motion” to describe the user-friendliness and safety of its vehicle.
The manufacturer assures that all three rows of seats will be comfortable for the occupants. Speaking of the onboard experience, the EM90 is equipped with reclining and massaging armchair-type seats and a 15.6-inch screen installed in the vault in the center of the product. The device allows entertainment options to be displayed through third-party applications and promises to project a user’s phone.
If you prefer to work, Volvo has grafted tablets to the side of the seats with the intention of allowing the use of a laptop. The company has also added a “meeting room” mode to adjust screens, seats, windows, air conditioning and interior lighting to get the most out of meetings.
“Theater” and “Room” modes are also offered to, once again, optimize the desired experience on board. While the rear occupants work, watch a movie or sleep, the driver faces a cluster of digital instruments and a 15.4-inch touchscreen to manage the various controls.
A noise cancellation system
The company relies on road noise suppression technology and dual-chamber air suspensions in order, according to the manufacturer, to offer a comfortable and innovative experience. The device functions substantially like noise-calming mechanisms known in portable headphones.
The latter analyzes sounds outside and then attenuates them inside the vehicle. For sound enthusiasts who might find the vehicle too quiet, Volvo offers a 21-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and 5G connectivity.
The EM90 has a look all its own, characterized by Thor’s hammer lights at both ends, a body-colored front panel with a backlit Volvo emblem and ‘VOLVO’ lettering. Volvo says the facade design was inspired by “skyscrapers and cutting-edge immersive art.”
On-board security
Power comes from a 268-horsepower electric motor powered by a 116-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Volvo cites a maximum range of up to 735 kilometers, but this data was obtained using the Chinese test cycle. No information based on the EPA standard has been released. The company, however, states that the EM90 is capable of 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.3 seconds.
The EM90 is currently offered in the Chinese market. It is also built in China. The company remains very unclear regarding the distribution of this vehicle, the company having declared “that the model would arrive first in China” without specifying its action plans for the future.
