Thanks to a new software update announced in February of this year, the Volvo EX30’s charging port can now finally power external devices. In addition to this Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function, the compact electric car built at the Belgian Volvo Ghent plant for certain markets also gets Plug & Charge.
The software update bringing V2L is coming to existing EX30’s from the 2026 model year and beyond. It will be rolled out to European customers in the coming weeks. Owners who want to use the new function will need to purchase an external V2L adapter. It will plug into the car’s charge port and serve as a 230V outlet.
V2L will transform the EX30 into a “large power bank”, according to Volvo. It will be able to power devices like a coffee machine or a television, or charge an electric bike. The EX30 will provide a power output of 3 kW. When the battery SOC drops to 20%, external power delivery is cut off.
Late to the party
The EX30 is the second Volvo model to offer V2L, after the bigger EX60. The brand announces more of its models will follow suit. In its press release, Volvo states the EX30 is “one of the first models in the compact premium segment to offer this technology”. But since V2L is rolled out with a software update, the hardware was already built into the EX30. So why not offer the possibility from launch?
In fact, models from Volvo’s sister brands have already offered V2L for much longer. Volvo Cars is part of the Geely group, together with Smart, Zeeker and Lynk & Co, among others.
They use the same SEA architecture as Volvo does on the EX30. The Smart #1 and #3 have been V2L-compatible since an OTA update rolled out in July 2024. And the Zeekr X and Lynk & Co 02 also offer the functionality.
Limited use
Moreover, Smart models deliver 3.7 kW, while the other two brands deliver 3.3 kW, with the EX30 limited to 3.0 kW. And that might matter for power tools or other more power-consuming devices.
For several EX30 buyers, V2L might not even happen. Cars sold before MY2026 are not mentioned at the moment. And the official 2.1.2 software release notes state that the update is currently unavailable in some markets for Ultra models equipped with the 22 kW charger. Whether the functionality will be added at a later point in time or is off the table altogether remains to be seen.
Other changes in the same OTA update
While Volvo focuses on V2L, the press release also mentions other changes rolled out in the same update. It will bring Plug & Charge to the EX30. This means that in certain markets and for some public charging points, users will no longer have to present their charging badge or use an app to start charging. Just plug in, and the car communicates payment details to the charging point.
The update also introduces a new user experience with greater adaptability on the central screen.
