Picture a cold early morning at a football pitch. You’ve just dropped off a group of keen young players and there’s time before kick-off. You open the boot, plug a coffee machine into the car and brew a fresh pot, sharing a few cups with fellow onlookers. The same setup can run tools for a DIY project, keep a fridge cold when electricity goes out or power cooking equipment at your weekend camping spot.
Starting this week, Volvo Cars is rolling out its latest over-the-air software update to both new and existing EX30 customers that introduces this new way to use the car in everyday life. It will be free of charge and reach customers globally over the coming weeks.
It also introduces an updated user experience, with a customisable contextual bar and redesigned settings menu that make it easier to access the controls that matter most to you.
With the addition of Plug & Charge* functionality in certain European markets, public charging becomes simpler and more convenient. Drivers can simply connect their car at compatible public charging stations and charging starts automatically – with no need for apps, cards or extra steps.
“Through the power of software and over-the-air updates, we can continue to enhance our cars with useful new features long after customers have bought them – including capabilities they may not have expected when they first purchased the car,” says Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars.
Using the car as a mobile power bank is straightforward. You connect an adapter** to the external charging port, plug in the device you want to use, and draw power from the car’s battery. Once connected, it works much like a standard power outlet.
The system can deliver up to 3kW of power at 16 amps, which is enough for a wide range of everyday equipment. Power can be used as needed, and the car will automatically stop supplying energy if the battery level drops below 20 per cent.
Making the most of the battery
This functionality is part of bidirectional charging, which means the car can both take in and supply electricity. In this case, it’s about Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), which allows you to power external devices directly from the car. The Volvo EX30 becomes one of the early adopters of this technology in the premium compact segment. The same capability is also available on the Volvo EX60 fully electric SUV, with more models to follow.
For existing EX30 owners, this update brings an entirely new use for the car, long after it left the factory. It’s an example of how Volvo cars can gain new features and improvements through over-the-air updates and continue to evolve throughout its lifecycle.
That same approach extends to the user experience in the EX30, where ongoing input from customers helps inform new updates and improvements over time. The settings menu has been simplified with less complexity, while a customisable contextual bar can present predictive actions or the functions most important to you.
The small print
*The Plug & Charge function is currently only available in Europe and on EX30 cars from model year 2026 onwards. Please speak to your local market representative for more information.
**The V2L adapter is required to connect external devices and is sold separately. Please speak to your local market representative or retailer for pricing and availability.
The V2L rollout will take place in markets across EMEA, APAC and Latin America using the CCS2 charging standard. Please speak to your local market representative for exact availability, as compatibility can vary according to vehicle configuration.
The V2L functionality is not available on EX30 models in the US, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. EX30 customers in those markets will still receive the user experience improvements included in the software update.
