Volvo reveals fully electric EM90 MPV with 458 miles of range

The Scandi-styled sitting room on wheels hits the Chinese market first

Following the reveal of its EX90 flagship EV, Volvo has launched its fully electric people carrier, the EM90. Where the former is most definitely a 'car', according to Volvo the EM90 is effectively a room on wheels. A room able to travel 458 miles on a single charge.

That's thanks to a huge 116kWh battery pack — powering a 200kW motor — that'll go from 0-80 per cent charge in under 30 minutes. Volvo tells us the hardware enables bi-directional charging, just like in the EX90.

The 0-62mph dash takes 8.3 seconds, which… isn't actually bad for a six-seater load-lugger, though it’s not clear if that’s with or without a full ship. You’re not going to want to be in any hurry though.

Jim Rowan, boss of Volvo Cars, said: «The Volvo EM90 is a supremely comfortable electric car with a smart cabin, fast charging, a competitive driving range, Volvo's unique design language and a high level of premium in every detail. But far more important is what it does for you. It gives you room to connect. Room to create. Room to relax. Room for you and for those around you.»

Bedroom, living room, guest room… you choose. The rear door slides back to reveal an interior that looks more business-class-on-Emirates than back-of-a-car. We’re talking reclining seats, individual climate control panels, wide armrests, massive windows and bags of space. Volvo calls it the ‘lounge look’.

It's all bedecked in neutral Scandi colours and accented elegantly with strategically placed metals. There’s a 15.4in front seat infotainment display and a 15.6in fold-down rear infotainment screen.

Buried in the software stack, a Snapdragon super processor teams up with 5G connectivity to host a multitude of infotainment options, enables digital key functionality and conducts a suite of ‘cutting edge’ sensors (including high-def cameras, millimetre wave radar tech and ultrasonic radars) for all those fancy driver assist features.

Couple those screens with the 21-speaker sound suite courtesy of Bowers and Wilkins and the cabin – Volvo says – turns into your own private concert hall, a theatre, bedroom or meeting room complete with video conferencing