Polestar 0 project promises climate-neutral car by 2030

Polestar, the Volvo sister brand that specialises in electric performance cars, has promised to deliver the world’s first truly ‘climate-neutral’ car by 2030.

Confirmed for an Australian launch by the end of this year, before online orders and deliveries for the mid-size Polestar 2 fastback commence in early 2022, Polestar says it aims to drive “design towards zero” by eliminating emissions rather than offsetting CO2 by planting trees.

In what it claims is the auto industry’s first product sustainability declaration for consumers, Polestar posits that climate neutrality requires a ‘moonshot’ rethink of the traditional approach to automotive design, technology and manufacturing.

As part of the company’s first annual review, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said offsetting CO2 is not sustainable because questions remain around the long-term carbon-storage capacity of forests and soils since forests may be logged, devastated by fire or altered by climate change.

“Offsetting is a cop-out,” he said. “By pushing ourselves to create a completely climate-neutral car, we are forced to reach beyond what is possible today. We will have to question everything, innovate and look to exponential technologies as we design towards zero.”

Polestar’s head of sustainability Fredrika Klarén said the Scandinavian EV-maker would track its carbon footprint and eventually eliminate emissions from manufacturing.

“We’re electric, so we don’t have to worry about combustion engines producing toxic emissions – but that doesn’t mean our job is done,” she said.

“We will now work to eradicate all emissions stemming from production. Now is a historic and exciting time for car makers, an opportunity to seize the moment, do better and dare to build the dream of climate-neutral, circular and beautiful cars.”

Polestar says it already incorporates climate action throughout its business, in part via climate targets within its employee bonus system.

But as part of its product sustainability declaration – something common in the food and fashion industries – it will disclose the amount of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent, a term that describes different greenhouse gases in a common unit) and ‘risk’ minerals required to produce all future Polestar models.

Starting with the Polestar 2, labeling will appear on the company’s website and in Polestar Spaces, initially disclosing the vehicle’s carbon footprint and traced risk materials.

Polestar says the move sets a “unique transparency precedent” for the auto industry and that additional details and information will be added to the labels over time, “reflecting continuous sustainability updates”.

“Consumers are a huge driving force in the shift to a sustainable economy. They need to be given the right tools to make informed and ethical decisions,” said Ingenlath.

“This makes things very clear. Today, Polestar 2 leaves the factory gates with a carbon footprint. In 2030 we want to present a car that does not.”

Back in September 2020, the Swedish-Chinese EV manufacturer revealed its first EV, the Polestar 2, has a bigger CO2 footprint in its production phase than an equivalent combustion-powered vehicle and will take at least 50,000km to redress the balance.

Today it confirmed the Polestar 2 has a carbon footprint of 26.2 tonnes of CO2e and contains cobalt.

Launched in 2020 by the Geely-owned, Gothenburg-based brand in 10 markets across Europe and North America, and in China, the Polestar 2’s all-wheel drive electric powertrain produces 300kW and 660Nm and offers a WLTP driving range of 470km.

While the company’s initial Polestar 1 coupe was a low-volume carbon-clad performance hybrid GT with a plug-in hybrid powertrain offering 1000Nm and a 124km EV range, the Polestar 2 will be followed by the Polestar 3 electric SUV and a Porsche Taycan-rivalling performance flagship previewed by the 2020 Precept concept.