Volvo is rolling out a new over-the-air software update to the EX30 this week that lets the car power external devices directly from its battery, alongside a new Plug & Charge feature that simplifies public charging.
The update, free for both new and existing EX30 owners, reaches customers globally over the coming weeks and also brings a redesigned settings menu and a customizable contextual bar to the car’s interface.
Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars, said the update reflects how software and OTA updates let the company keep adding useful features to cars long after they’ve been purchased, including capabilities owners may not have expected when they bought the car.
A Built-In Power Outlet
The new Vehicle-to-Load capability lets drivers plug in a separately sold adapter to the car’s external charging port and run devices — a coffee machine at a kids’ sports match, power tools on a DIY project, a fridge during an outage, or cooking equipment while camping — directly off the EX30’s battery, functioning much like a standard wall outlet.
The system delivers up to 3kW at 16 amps, enough for a wide range of everyday equipment, and automatically cuts power once the battery drops below 20 percent to protect range.
V2L is part of Volvo’s broader bidirectional charging capability, which allows the car to both draw and supply electricity, and makes the EX30 one of the earliest adopters of the technology in the premium compact segment; the feature is also available on the EX60 SUV, with more models expected to follow.
Simpler Public Charging Too
In select European markets, EX30 models from the 2026 model year onward also gain Plug & Charge functionality, letting drivers plug in at compatible public charging stations and start charging automatically without needing an app or card.
Volvo frames both updates as part of an ongoing pattern of using customer feedback and over-the-air software to keep evolving its cars throughout their lifecycle, rather than treating a vehicle’s feature set as fixed at the time of sale.
V2L is rolling out across markets in EMEA, APAC and Latin America using the CCS2 charging standard, though availability depends on vehicle configuration and the feature isn’t currently offered on EX30 models sold in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan or Japan — customers in those markets will still receive the broader user-experience improvements included in the update.