Volvo EX30 thread

[soupdragon1]

dxg said:

I'm not a fan of the doors.

No electrics *at all* other than the window motor. No switches. No speaker.

https://youtu.be/igRDY0u_4hE?t=214

The value engineers have had a field day...

If you ask yourself 'would I pay extra to have the window switch on my right hand, rather than left hand, plus lose the soundbar speakers at chest height and put it on the door at ankle height' I would imagine most people wouldn't tick the box and pay for those features.

Its intuitive to have the window switch on the door of course, but personally, I think the soundbar idea is better than the traditional bottom of the door position.

[ajap1979]

dxg said:

The value engineers have had a field day...

Isn't it things like that that have enabled Volvo to deliver a decent EV that starts at £33k?

Personally, I had centre console mounted window switches on an E46 coupe 20 years ago and it didn't bother me in the slightest.

[C70R]

ajap1979 said:

dxg said:

The value engineers have had a field day...

Isn't it things like that that have enabled Volvo to deliver a decent EV that starts at £33k?

Personally, I had centre console mounted window switches on an E46 coupe 20 years ago and it didn't bother me in the slightest.

Exactly this.

"I love that Volvo have been able to make this car so cheaply, but I hate the compromises they've made to achieve this price."

[raspy]

dxg said:

I'm not a fan of the doors.

No electrics *at all* other than the window motor. No switches. No speaker.

https://youtu.be/igRDY0u_4hE?t=214

The value engineers have had a field day...

Value engineers? Didn't Mercedes way back when they were building higher quality cars have electric window switches on the centre console, and not on the doors themselves?

[Mammasaid]

raspy said:

dxg said:

I'm not a fan of the doors.

No electrics *at all* other than the window motor. No switches. No speaker.

https://youtu.be/igRDY0u_4hE?t=214

The value engineers have had a field day...

Value engineers? Didn't Mercedes way back when they were building higher quality cars have electric window switches on the centre console, and not on the doors themselves?

Makes sense not to have a loom passing through the doors where it can chafe and eventually break.

[AKjr]

Looks alright to me, given the price. I bet that its interior quality and functionality is better than an ID3 or Born, too.

Not a fan of the dash effect, looks st, but it can be specced out.

Honestly, I think that they're on to a winner, they'll sell/lease/shift loads.

[BigMacDaddy]

Mammasaid said:

Makes sense not to have a loom passing through the doors where it can chafe and eventually break.

Doesn't it still need one anyway though for the window motors/electric mirrors etc?

[DMZ]

soupdragon1 said:

If you ask yourself 'would I pay extra to have the window switch on my right hand, rather than left hand, plus lose the soundbar speakers at chest height and put it on the door at ankle height' I would imagine most people wouldn't tick the box and pay for those features.

Its intuitive to have the window switch on the door of course, but personally, I think the soundbar idea is better than the traditional bottom of the door position.

I'm not sure I care about where the window switches are but I would definitely pay extra for driver information in front of me and proper sound. In fact, I won't buy a car with just a central iPad. It seems driver information in front of you is becoming a premium feature differentiator.

[TheDeuce]

DMZ said:

soupdragon1 said:

If you ask yourself 'would I pay extra to have the window switch on my right hand, rather than left hand, plus lose the soundbar speakers at chest height and put it on the door at ankle height' I would imagine most people wouldn't tick the box and pay for those features.

Its intuitive to have the window switch on the door of course, but personally, I think the soundbar idea is better than the traditional bottom of the door position.

I'm not sure I care about where the window switches are but I would definitely pay extra for driver information in front of me and proper sound. In fact, I won't buy a car with just a central iPad. It seems driver information in front of you is becoming a premium feature differentiator.

I think as and when HUD is mandated in a few countries even the premium cars will start to sack off the traditional driver displays. Have to wait and see if HUD is mandated, but if it is at some point, I can't see many manufacturers bothering with the driver display screen, it would just become an additional and hard to justify expense.

Personally I love a dedicated driver display screen, it's great to have full sized sat nav with satellite imagery - something that HUD can't offer in the same detail.

[mikeiow]

dxg said:

I'm not a fan of the doors.

No electrics *at all* other than the window motor. No switches. No speaker.

https://youtu.be/igRDY0u_4hE?t=214

The value engineers have had a field day...

I’ve had Saabs that always had the window controls in the centre. Handy if an accident (or medical episode!) takes the driver out: anyone can unlock the central locking. Makes sense!

[Flooble]

mikeiow said:

I’ve had Saabs that always had the window controls in the centre. Handy if an accident (or medical episode!) takes the driver out: anyone can unlock the central locking. Makes sense!

Presumably also makes it easier to do LHD/RHD - same door trim and console for both types.

[soupdragon1]

Electrek did an interview with Volvo on the EX30 and asked them about it being so fast at 3.4 seconds to 60 mph. Volvo rep basically said they got it by accident, and its not important. He said they were more pleased about getting from 100 to zero in 58 meters. He summarised by saying that in day to day driving, good acceleration between 40 and 80mph is what you really want, along with short stopping distances. Those are the important numbers, not how fast you get it 60 mph.

Thats a hell of a humble brag? 'Yeah, we can make one of the fastest cars around without even trying.'

I wonder how fast it would be if they actually tried

https://electrek.co/2023/06/15/volvo-ex30s-incredi...

[Terminator X]

My understanding is that EVs are fast as a by product of a bigger battery needed for longer range. You don't have to try too hard for a fast EV certainly Vs a fast petrol car.

TX.

[ajap1979]

Terminator X said:

My understanding is that EVs are fast as a by product of a bigger battery needed for longer range. You don't have to try too hard for a fast EV certainly Vs a fast petrol car.

TX.

True, but the EX30 doesn't have a particularly big battery, 69kWh in the fast version.

[oop north]

ajap1979 said:

Terminator X said:

My understanding is that EVs are fast as a by product of a bigger battery needed for longer range. You don't have to try too hard for a fast EV certainly Vs a fast petrol car.

TX.

True, but the EX30 doesn't have a particularly big battery, 69kWh in the fast version.

If I understand correctly, it would be more accurate to say that the possibility of going fast results from a big battery, as the size of the battery affects the maximum discharge rate. You still have to fit powerful motors to take advantage of that, so the claim it was by accident seems to me to be a bit misleading

[C.A.R.]

The 3.4 / 3.6 to 60 thing is interesting. I thought perhaps it was because of weight-saving, since you effectively have the same power (428hp) as a dual-motor Tesla Model 3.

...But the Volvo is heavier at 1943kg (+ 100kg on a Model 3). 60mph in 3.4 was the headline previously, but 0-62mph (100kmh) is 3.6s. 2 tenths to do 2mph without a gearchange to worry about? It's slightly up on torque vs the mid-spec Tesla but only by around 50Nm (+10%)

Something seems...off. It'll be impressive if it does it (and surely Volvo wouldn't announce these numbers if it wasn't certain) but I wonder if it achieves it with some means of launch control?

[JonnyVTEC]

Check the top speeds... what effect might you think that has on gearing.

1. broaden your view.

[Whataguy]

I always wondered if Volvo would take advantage of their own limited 112mph top speed by changing the gearing to get better response.

Other competitors may be geared for 150mph or more.

[DMZ]

If so clever by Volvo as very few markets care about top speed.

[TheDeuce]

oop north said:

ajap1979 said:

Terminator X said:

My understanding is that EVs are fast as a by product of a bigger battery needed for longer range. You don't have to try too hard for a fast EV certainly Vs a fast petrol car.

TX.

True, but the EX30 doesn't have a particularly big battery, 69kWh in the fast version.

If I understand correctly, it would be more accurate to say that the possibility of going fast results from a big battery, as the size of the battery affects the maximum discharge rate. You still have to fit powerful motors to take advantage of that, so the claim it was by accident seems to me to be a bit misleading

Yes, you need more battery bandwidth to produce more power.

I think the reason EV's with a suitable size battery are so fast is because, why the hell not? The speed is cheap, almost free. The manufacturer pays for a slightly larger motor or second motor, and for that small cost gifts the car another plus point in the eyes of many potential buyers.

From the customers pov, also no downsides. You don't need massive brakes as you lean heavily on regen when braking. Your 'fuel' costs in a 500hp EV are the same as in a 200hp EV if you drive them both the same way, and just a marginal increase when you do accelerate hard.

Just makes sense. It's quite nice that suddenly the average chap, even if it's a bit of a stretch to bankroll a decent EV for some, can can enjoy typical supercar acceleration