What material will the new Volvo be made of

VolvoCars and Swedish steel company SSAB will explore the possibility of developing high-quality steel for the automotive industry that does not require fossil hydrocarbons.

VolvoCars is the first car manufacturer to partner with SSAB and its HYBRIT (Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology) program.It is an ambitious project to replace coking coal traditionally needed for iron ore steel production with electricity and hydrogen that does not use fossil fuels.The results are expected to yield the world's first steel production technology with virtually no carbon footprint - the so-called direct reduction of iron ore.

VolvoCars' pilot steel will be produced at the HYBRIT pilot plant in Luleå, Sweden.The steel will be used for testing and possibly even a concept car.

“As we continue to reduce our overall carbon footprint, we know steel is an important area for further development. Working with SSAB to develop fossil-free steel can significantly reduce emissions from our supply chain,” said Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson.

The global steel industry accounts for about 7% of global direct carbon dioxide emissions, as the industry is currently dominated by iron ore steelmaking technology that relies on blast furnaces using coking coal.For Volvo Cars, the CO2 emissions associated with the production of automotive steel and cast iron account for about 35% of total CO2 emissions from materials and components and 20% of all-electric vehicles.