Volvo recalls 40,000 electric cars due to battery issues
Because batteries can overheat, Volvo is recalling more than 40,000 EX30 electric cars. The manufacturer recommends not fully charging the batteries.
(Image: heise medien)
Volvo must recall over 40,000 vehicles because their batteries could overheat, the British news agency Reuters reports, citing the Swedish car manufacturer.
The recall affects 40,323 vehicles of the EX30 type in the Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance variants. The batteries could overheat and catch fire. Volvo will contact the owners of the affected vehicles and, meanwhile, recommends charging the battery only up to 70 percent.
Battery problems are said to be resolved
Volvo sources the batteries for its electric cars from the Chinese manufacturer Shandong Geely Sunwoda Power Battery, a joint venture in which Volvo's parent company Geely is involved. According to Volvo, the manufacturer has now resolved the problems and is delivering new cells.
The error is particularly embarrassing for Volvo because the Swedish brand traditionally places a particular emphasis on safety. The batteries in the affected vehicles are to be replaced, which will likely cost the manufacturer a three-digit million sum. According to Reuters' calculations, the battery modules alone will cost 195 million US dollars. In addition, there are delivery and labor costs. However, Volvo described these calculations as speculative.
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The Volvo EX30 is a compact SUV based on the Geely platform Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). Geely also builds the Zeekr X models, as well as the Smart #1 and Smart #3, on this platform. Volvo equips the affected variants of the EX30 with Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) batteries.
(wpl)