The LFP version, not offered in the US, is the more environmentally friendly choice
In a life cycle assessment of the Volvo EX30 electric vehicle released on Thursday, the automaker highlighted that its upcoming compact electric vehicle has the lowest carbon footprint of any electric Volvo to date.
The team behind it EX30 analysis We looked at two EX30 versions – one with the 69 kWh lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NMC) battery, the other with the 51 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. And it pointed out a very significant difference that makes the LFP version by far the more environmentally friendly choice.
“The NMC battery has almost twice the impact per pack as the LFP battery,” Volvo summarized, despite only offering 35% more capacity.
Volvo EX30 NMC vs LFP battery manufacturing CO2, future potential profits
However, there’s a big asterisk to that conclusion that points to the most environmentally friendly EX30: Americans don’t get to choose it.
The LFP decision also seems to extend beyond the EX30. US Volvo spokesman Russell Datz confirmed to Green Car Reports that “it is not currently in Volvo’s plans to offer LFP batteries in the US.”
2025 Volvo EX30 Electric SUV (Single Engine, Cloud Blue)
2025 Volvo EX30 Electric SUV (Single Engine, Cloud Blue)
2025 Volvo EX30 Electric SUV (Single Engine, Cloud Blue)
The LFP package for Europe and China has half the carbon impact
The EX30 analysis remains one of the first reports of its kind and follows the carbon footprint studies of the Volvo This is to “make informed decisions.”
While it’s likely that many automakers retain such data and methodologies for internal reporting – or to share small pieces of data with shareholders in sustainability reports, Volvo is one of the few automakers to make it publicly available. Tesla considers some aspects of life cycle analysis, including EV battery longevityin its Impact Report, which has not been published since 2022.
Volvo calculated the EX30’s lifetime CO2 emissions, based on 200,000 km (124,000 miles), at 36,000 kg and 31,000 kg for the NMC and LFP versions, respectively. Using the same methodology, Volvo calculated the CO2 emissions over the entire lifespan of the XC40 Recharge to be 54,000 kg CO2 equivalent.
2024 Volvo XC40 Charging
To compare this to a petrol-powered combustion engine model, Volvo’s previous report on the XC40 Recharge quoted a petrol model as weighing 58,000kg.
In a graph of the total impact per life cycle phase, Volvo shows that the largest phase is of course the use phase itself. As vehicle use increases, the impact per mile (or km) decreases – to the extent that the total CO2 emissions of all stages per mile (or km) over a lifespan of 300,000 km (186,000 miles) is only 65% The report’s baseline is 150,000 km (124,000 miles).
It is also noted that Green Car Reports has highlighted this in a number of ways: Electric vehicles start with a larger carbon footprint This pays off for you over the entire lifespan of the vehicle EV is as clean as the power grid You plug it in, and do so effectively The EX30’s carbon footprint is far lower if the grid is powered by renewable sources such as wind, compared to the forecast global electricity mix.
2025 Volvo EX30
Small car, big battery footprint – by weight and CO2
It’s not unusual for the EX30’s battery to make up almost a quarter of its curb weight. The larger capacity NMC backpack adds 858 pounds to the EX30’s weight of around 4,000 pounds, while the smaller LFP backpack weighs 902 pounds. Volvo points out that the NMC cells are manufactured by two different suppliers, so the difference is split between the two.
In terms of materials alone, the battery accounts for 44% of the carbon footprint of the NMC version of the EX30. But the LFP advantage isn’t just because of that; Volvo says that per kWh, LFP cells produce about half of the CO2 emissions produced during manufacturing. And the EX30 with LFP cells is also around 2% more efficient during the usage phase.
Lifetime CO2 of the Volvo EX30 in relation to different phases
Although the battery is by far the single largest carbon-intensive component in the car, Volvo points out that the vehicle’s overall weight and material balance are tied to both the EX30’s environmental impact and ease of manufacturing. About 55% of its weight is made up of aluminum, steel and iron, which account for 58% of the vehicle’s climate impact, not counting the battery.
Material production and refining, production logistics and the manufacture of the vehicles themselves also make a significant contribution. The EX30 is currently being built at a factory in Zhangjiakou, China.
2025 Volvo EX30
All in all 16% less CO2 for the EX30 LFP version
Overall, taking into account these other manufacturing and material considerations, usage, end of use and more, the EX30 with the LFP package has a 16% lower carbon footprint than the model with the NMC battery.
In other words, based on the XC40 family results, switching from the NMC to an LFP package could potentially reflect a greater improvement in lifetime CO2 emissions than switching from one in the markets where it is offered equivalent petrol model to an NMC EX30.
This highlights why some automakers have switched to LFP battery technology. But Tesla only stalled with the introduction of chemistry in the US with the Model 3, and ford And Rivianamong other things, are not introducing the technology as quickly as originally announced.
The study begins with a baseline lifespan of 15 years and 124,000 miles, with half of the vehicle’s total mileage accumulated in the first five years. It looks at emissions from cradle to grave, and while it takes into account the changing of portable items like tires and windshield wipers, it doesn’t take into account potential accidental damage along the way. The power consumption itself is based on the WLTP driving cycle, which creates losses; Since this cycle tends to be very optimistic in terms of efficiency compared to real-world results, a little more energy might be needed in reality.
2025 Volvo EX30
Various forecasts are also used, not only about what the global energy mix will look like by then, but also about how the opportunities for maximum use of recycled vehicles might be expanded by then.
The EX30 may also have the lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo model ever, but it’s not possible to compare those numbers to the brand’s previous models, which were known for their durability. Let’s hope the EX30 lasts just as long.
