It will be on November 9 when Volvo shows, for the first time, the new EX90, the first electric vehicle of the Swedish brand designed on a specific platform for battery models. and do not use chassis designed to receive combustion mechanics. If these seconds make the process faster and less expensive, they are the first to ensure the higher efficiency, lower weight and more versatility and interior space. That is why Volvo has used the platform that will also serve Polestar and the rest of the Geely Group brands.
The EX90, which will cohabit with the XC90 and its versions with combustion engines, focuses on security. In a vehicle that must be lower than current XC90to be more aerodynamic and more energy efficient, Volvo promises to build the safest Nordic brand model in history. An argument that is not obvious that it will appeal to many consumers, but that is an asset very dear to Volvo, which has long invested in the safety of its drivers. With the EX90, the brand whose CEO since March is the Scotsman Jim Rowan, who previously held the same role at the vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson -a company that promised to design an innovative electric vehicle, which never materialized-, expects to reduce Volvo car accidents by 9% and the number of deaths and serious injuries by 20%.
Cameras, sensors, radars and LiDAR as standard
The preview of what will be the EX90 was in charge of Jim Rowan himself, who succeeded the Swedish Hakan Samuelsson. The new CEO stressed that the model will be equipped as standard with 8 cameras, 18 sensors (ultrasonic), radars and a LiDAR built into the roof. The latter bears the greatest responsibility for detecting dangerous situations, and Volvo affirms that the system has highly refined functions, which allows it to detects pedestrians at 250 meters and even an abandoned tire on a dark road at 120 meters.
The integration of all this equipment is important not only in terms of safety, but also if Volvo wants to offer a certain level of driving autonomy. This despite the fact that LiDAR is a technology with some limitations, for example in terms of radars, especially in rain, snow or fog. But all these systems have an associated cost and, when included as standard they can make the EX90 less accessible.
Always aware of the driver
In addition to this array of outward-facing equipment, the first electric Volvo designed from the ground up also benefits from solutions designed to control the driver. That’s because, according to Rowan, even good drivers cause accidents due to distraction or drowsiness, in addition to substance abuse, such as alcohol. That is why Volvo is committed to controlling the behavior of those behind the wheel.
There are two cameras pointing at the driver. to detect if your attention is on the road or on the mobile or even on the landscape to avoid distractions. Blink rate, or reaction time, can mean drowsiness, tiredness, or excess alcohol, which can cause the EX90 to start beepingto get the driver’s attention, even causing it to pull over to the side of the road if the driver continues without intervening.
Neither of these systems is new, and there are many vehicles on the market that offer them, exception made for LiDAR, with Volvo recalling that there are various levels of efficiency for this type of equipment, some being more efficient than others. All these driving assistance systems are developed with the support of Luminar and Nvidia.
Now it remains to wait for November 9, when the electric SUV will be announced, to confirm that it will be mounted on the SPA Platform (Scalable product architecture). The batteries, whose capacity is still unknown, will be made up of cells supplied by LG and CATLwith the chemistry used only to be announced in just over a month.
Source: Observadora
