• The Volvo EX90 is set to be unveiled to the world on 9th November.
• The flagship electric SUV will feature bi-directional charging functionality.
• When not charging, it could be used to power other appliances or infrastructure.

On 9th November, Volvo will showcase its latest all-electric vehicle in the form of the EX90. Billed as a flagship fully electric SUV, it looks like this new offering could be heading to South African roads.

While new EVs are nothing new for other parts of the globe, SA’s ailing power utility and lack of charging station infrastructure mean the local availability of globally announced electric vehicles is always a coin toss.

That does not appear to be the case with the EX90, as Volvo South Africa has also outlined how this EV could be great within the local context of loadshedding. This is thanks to the bi-directional charging functionality that the EX90 sports.

“Bi-directional charging is especially significant to South Africans – because of load shedding. This South African challenge means that our customers will be especially receptive to a feature such as this,” highlighted Greg Maruszewski, MD of Volvo Car South Africa, in a press release sent to Hypertext regarding the upcoming EX90.

Here Volvo SA explains that with bi-directional charging, electric cars can have the potential to contribute to easing the strain on the power grid while plugged in. With enough EVs that feature this technology, the company says they could form a virtual powerplant of sorts.

“Paired with smart-charging capabilities coming to the Volvo Cars smartphone app, the Volvo EX90 will allow motorists to charge their cars when demand from the grid is low and save that stored energy to be used later. ‘Later’ could obviously mean when loadshedding kicks in,” added Maruszewski.

“Practically, during loadshedding, the Volvo EX90 could power any appliances in a home – from power tools to a music system. Initially becoming available in selected markets, bi-directional charging has the potential to make energy utilisation cheaper, more efficient and sustainable,” the aforementioned press release pointed out.

The EX90 would not be the first EV to feature such functionality, with Ford’s latest F150 Lightning touting something similar.

It, therefore, looks like Volvo is aiming to position its newer EVs with the ability to assist with power instead of being solely reliant on it. This is not a South African problem alone now, as the likes of France and the UK are dealing with their own bouts of loadshedding, so there is scope for Volvo’s new SUV to make a case for itself in those regions too.

“With the Volvo EX90 you can power your life. You could use its battery in many ways, from topping up your electric bike when you’re out and about, to hooking up an outdoor cooking appliance for your weekend camping trip. It could even power your house during the expensive peak hours of the day,” noted head of Electrification Ecosystem at Volvo, Olivier Loedel.

Hopefully, more car makers are starting to think like this and imbue their new EVs with similar technologies to bi-directional charging. Especially as it may be the only way to get these vehicles into the country.

As we wait for the EX90 to be revealed in a few weeks, hit play on the video below, where Volvo further unpacks its bi-directional charging technology.