Volvo's upcoming EX30: the compact counter to the SUV surge

Whether electric or gas-powered, larger vehicles require more energy to manufacture and move around. Their size and weight also make them more dangerous for other road users and (literally) take a heavier toll on streets and highways. So it's no wonder concerns are growing. 

In Montreal, the borough of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie just updated pricing for parking permits: the heavier a vehicle, the more its owner will pay. Why? In the last 20 years, between 4,000 and 10,000 parking spaces disappeared due to increased vehicle size. The borough aims to discourage that trend. Electric vehicles get a discount thanks to their lower emissions, but the issue at hand — for infrastructure, safety and the environment — is size.

As Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie's mayor declared: "With the auto industry demonstrating no ability to self-regulate and reduce vehicle growth, it's time for governments to do so." Volvo, with its announcement that "Thinking small is one of our biggest ideas," could be getting ahead of other regulators eager to take action. And switching to a more sustainable lane.