Volvo concept car previews its all-electric future

Get an idea of what Volvo's next EVs will look like.
By Sasha Lekach  on 
Volvo concept car previews its all-electric future
Volvo's new electric look. Credit: volvo

Where Volvo's going, it's all electric.

The Swedish car company showed off its electric concept car at a live tech event streamed from Gothenburg, Sweden on Wednesday. The Recharge concept will be the design foundation for future Volvo EVs.

Volvo has already pledged to only produce electric vehicles by 2030. Until then, Volvo has five plug-in hybrid versions and there's already the Volvo XC40 and forthcoming C40 Recharge, which look like electrified versions of Volvo's combustion-engine SUVs.

But now electric Volvos will have a completely new look to distinguish them from past traditional gas models.

As seen in the concept photos, the new look even has a roofline LiDAR sensor from Luminar for autonomous driving features. The sensor box on the roof emits light rays to measure distance so the car can "see" what's around it, like cars, pedestrians, or cyclists.

Mashable Image
Glass roof complete with LiDAR. Credit: volvo

The main feature of the Recharge concept is a flat floor, under which will sit the electric battery. The first EV to be manufactured from the concept design will be an SUV with more space inside, a new glass roof, and a "shield" instead of a grille on the front.

Mashable Image
Backside bliss. Credit: volvo
Come on in. Credit: Volvo
An inside look at the concept. Credit: volvo

The seats have been repositioned because of the bigger inside space and flat floor, with a 15-inch touchscreen as the focal point of the interior. As part of Wednesday's tech event, Volvo also announced its own operating system called VolvoCars.OS to control the screen. There's even a plan to collect real-time data from actual driving to improve its AI-based automatic driving system. These features should make Volvos feel more like a Tesla.

According to Volvo, the Recharge concept car is intended to have a "Scandinavian living room feeling."

That's the electric future.

Stan Schroeder contributed to this report.

Mashable Image
Sasha Lekach

Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.


Recommended For You
Tesla Model 3 'Ludicrous' will be more than just a speedier M3, new leaks show
Tesla Model 3


Xiaomi's SU7 electric car is stunning IRL
Xiaomi SU7 Max

SpaceX’s Successful Launch, Devin's AI Teaching AI and other top stories
U Need to Know This Ep 56

Porsche refreshes the Taycan with big range and power upgrade
Porsche Taycan 2025

More in Tech
How to watch 'Lisa Frankenstein' at home: When is it streaming?
Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse in 'Lisa Frankenstein'


How to watch NC State vs. Marquette basketball without cable
DJ Horne #0 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack drives to the basket as Blake Lampman #11 of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies defends during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

How to watch Gonzaga vs. Purdue basketball without cable
Purdue Boilermakers guard Lance Jones (55) starts a fast break during the Purdue Boilermakers versus the Utah State Aggies in the second round of the NCAA Division I Championship on March 24, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

How to watch Tennessee vs. Creighton basketball without cable
Ryan Kalkbrenner #11 of the Creighton Bluejays goes to the basket in the first half of the game against the Oregon Ducks during the second round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Trending on Mashable
Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 29
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 29
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 28
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'


'3 Body Problem' ending: What does Dr Ye Wenjie's 'joke' about God really mean?
An older woman sits in a room.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!