Volvo Electric Vehicles Now Warn Each Other of Animal Hazards

Volvo is enhancing road safety with a new over-the-air software update that allows its electric vehicles to alert one another about animal hazards on the road. This feature, named Large Animal Alert, uses a vehicle's sensors and cameras to detect dangers like deer or elk and uploads the location data to the cloud.

This information is then relayed to other nearby Volvo electric cars, providing drivers with advance warnings as they approach potential animal crossings. The update is being rolled out to the new EX60 SUV, EX90 seven-seater SUV, and ES90 saloon EV models. Volvo states this technology could also help reduce the number of animals killed on roads annually.

This system builds upon Volvo's long-standing commitment to safety. Previous iterations, such as the Animal Detection technology introduced in 2013 and Interior Large Animal Detection in 2015, could identify animals and even initiate braking. However, these earlier systems lacked the capability to communicate warnings to other vehicles.

In addition to Large Animal Alert, the new software update includes other connected safety features. Vulnerable Road User Alert warns drivers of pedestrians and cyclists near the road. Roadwork Alert notifies drivers of upcoming road construction, and Accident Ahead Alert provides real-time warnings of incidents further down the road. These join existing features like Slippery Road Alert and Hazard Light Alert.

Volvo is also sharing this safety data through the European Data for Road Safety system, which includes manufacturers such as Ford, BMW, Volkswagen Group, and Geely. This broader data sharing ensures that alerts can be transmitted to other vehicle manufacturers and national traffic management centers, extending the safety benefits beyond Volvo's own vehicle network. Åsa Haglund, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre, noted that this sharing of safety intelligence helps drivers prepare earlier, avoid accidents, and feel safer on the road.