Volvo Advises 40 Electric Vehicle Owners to Park Outdoors Immediately | Carscoops

      A rare defect in EV batteries has led Volvo to advise owners to park their vehicles outside while awaiting a solution that is not yet available.

      Volvo has recalled 40 EX30 EVs due to a potential fire risk associated with the battery.

      Microscopic growth of lithium may cause short circuits.

      Owners are instructed to limit charging to minimize the risk of overheating.

      Volvo is requesting that the 40 EX30 owners park their cars outside immediately, not as a choice but as a safety measure due to a rare but critical battery problem that could result in a short circuit and potentially a fire under certain conditions.

      The concerning aspect is that this significant safety issue is linked to a microscopic occurrence within individual battery cells. Unfortunately, Volvo currently does not have a solution for this problem.

      According to a recently filed recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue involves 40 units of the 2025 Volvo EX30 produced between September 6, 2024, and October 25, 2025.

      These vehicles contain high-voltage battery cells supplied by Sunwoda Power Battery Company in China, and Volvo estimates that all recalled units include the defect.

      What’s the Issue?

      The problem arises from what Volvo describes as a manufacturing deviation in the battery cell production process. Though the specifics of the deviation are not disclosed, the consequences are evident. This error allows the batteries to develop lithium plating inside the cell.

      This plating, known as dendrites, can grow large enough over time to result in a short circuit. This poses a serious risk, especially in a vehicle. Consequently, Volvo has issued the recall and advised customers to keep their vehicles parked outside.

      Drivers may receive a battery overheating warning on the dashboard; however, by that time, the situation may have already escalated. The automaker first identified the problem in July 2025 after learning of potential battery overheating incidents outside the U.S.

      No Solution, For Now

      After an investigation, the company decided to initiate a recall last December. Unfortunately, a resolution is still pending.

      In the interim, Volvo recommends that owners limit the maximum charge of their EX30s to 70 percent. This measure aims to decrease the likelihood of lithium plating growth while the company works on a long-term solution.

      While not an ideal scenario, it is somewhat reassuring that only 40 owners are affected, rather than 40,000.