Volvo unveils new feature to simplify EV charging

Volvo finally added Plug & Charge support for EVs.

It starts with the EX90 SUV and comes to the upcoming EX60 later this year. The feature lets drivers pay for charging simply by plugging in, without needing to swipe a card or open a phone app.

Tesla owners have had this capability for years.

The company is now catching up.

The EX60, when it arrives, will offer up to 400 miles of range and a peak charging speed of 370 kilowatts.

The system works by automatically authorizing payment the moment the connector locks into the vehicle.

Without it, EV drivers typically have to tap a credit card at the charging station or launch a specific network’s mobile app to start a session.

Tesla Superchargers don’t have payment screens, which is why they rely on the Tesla app for non-Tesla vehicles or the system for Teslas themselves. The vehicle can use Superchargers natively because it has an NACS port, though there’s a catch with older stations.

At a launch event for the model, a Volvo powertrain engineer told the outlet that Tesla’s V3 Superchargers can’t reach the car’s peak charging speed. Those stations max out at around 120 kW on a 400-volt charger because the car has to run its rear inverter to convert the current to 800 volts. A 150-kW charging rate on Superchargers is expected later. The EX90 can also use Tesla chargers, but it needs a CCS-to-NACS adapter to do so.

The feature will also work at IONNA locations in the US.

Those stations currently offer 400-kW stalls, which means the vehicle can go from 10 percent to 80 percent charge in about 16 minutes.

The Volvo Cars App can find these charging stations.

The built-in Google Automotive system can also find them and plan routes that include stops.

“The EX60 and EX90 reflect Volvo Cars’ vision for the future of mobility—vehicles that combine safety, sustainability, and human-centric technology,” said Jim Nichols, Head of Product, Technology & Consumer Offer at Volvo Car Americas. “With the addition of Plug & Charge, Volvo drivers can enjoy an even more seamless ownership experience, making public charging as simple as plugging in and walking away.”

The automaker is late to the game compared to Tesla, but the vehicle’s specifications put it in a strong position against other EVs on the market. Whether the real-world charging experience matches the numbers will depend on network reliability and station availability, which remain uneven across the US.