Polestar aims to build a climate-neutral cars by 2030—In that it will eliminate emissions not only from driving, but also from every different aspect of production, and even sales and support.
That’s a lofty goal — especially considering that the project, called “Project Polestar 0,” will not resort to offsetting carbon emissions simply by planting trees. Such an approach would require systematic cooperation of the entire supply chain; and that’s what Polestar provided some more information on early Wednesday.
According to the EV maker, it has now signed a letter of intent with strategic partners in metal, safety, driving systems and electronics for the project — each effectively tasked with Polestar’s specific area of vehicle carbon footprint. Sweden’s SSAB will help provide “fossil-free” steel, while Norway’s Hydro will co-produce aluminum. ZF will aim to innovate the engine system and Autoliv will focus on zero-emission safety systems. Lighting supplier ZKW will also work on “climate-neutral electrical and control systems”.
Project Polestar 0
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: “It has been clear from the outset that this is not a single mission and we are delighted to present a large team of interested partners, all leaders in their field.
Polestar says it’s currently reaching out to a variety of stakeholders – including academic researchers – for help and hopes that the project will help decarbonize the entire industry and change the way cars are made.
Polestar in 2020 pointed to a “worrisome lack of transparency” about the carbon footprint of electric vehicles and how it compares between cars and the need to set “a new standard for vehicle manufacturers to slightly different to obey”. As the Union of Concerned Scientists has demonstrated over the years, electric vehicles can lower life cycle carbon emissions versus internal combustion vehicles — now the case in nearly every use case.
Trailer for Polestar 5 (Precept) coming in 2024
Project Polestar 0 should not be confused with Lynk & Co. Zero concepta preview car of the brand’s upcoming flagship product, Polestar 5due in 2024.
Expect the announcements to keep coming. Polestar is jointly owned by Volvo Cars and its parent company, China’s Geely. It’s in the middle of the SPAC; The deal with Gores Guggenheim is likely to be publicly traded within months.
