Polestar seeks help for climate-neutral car

Polestar is collaborating with global suppliers to speed up development of a climate-neutral car, and also seeks research for it.

Automotive industry suppliers such as SSAB, Hydro, ZF, ZKW and Autoliv, are joining forces with Polestar on its climate-neutral car project – uniting companies across the auto supply chain to help the transport sector play its part in reducing climate impact.

The Swedish electric performance car company has signed letters of intent to collaborate with a selection of strategic partners in metals, tyres, safety, driving systems and electronics, on each area of focus on Polestar’s life cycle assessments (LCAs) of its current vehicles’ carbon footprints.

Nordic steel and metals producer SSAB intends to collaborate with Polestar on fossil-free steel, which could potentially replace not only conventional steel in a car but also other materials with significant carbon footprints.

Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company Hydro intends to collaborate with Polestar’s experts on zero-carbon aluminium, while automotive systems supplier ZF aims to explore with Polestar how its innovation in electric powertrain and overall systems competence could eliminate carbon emissions and save resources.

 Automotive safety supplier Autoliv intends to partner with Polestar on safety equipment like airbags and seatbelts with zero emissions, and automotive lighting manufacturer ZKW also plans to team up with Polestar on climate-neutral electrical control systems and wiring.

 “It was clear from the start that this is not a solo mission and we are very excited to present such a strong line-up of interested partners, all leaders within their fields,” says Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath.

“We are leveraging innovation and collaboration to address the climate crisis.”

Polestar is inviting other suppliers, researchers, universities, entrepreneurs, investors, and governmental and non-governmental organisations for possible collaboration.

Polestar 0 Project leader and former Polestar R&D head Hans Pehrson says: “For this project, we must tap into solutions that are still in the innovation stage.

“Even more exciting is that the solutions we develop will not only benefit the automotive industry overall but help decarbonise manufacturing and society more widely as well.”

Polestar aims to create a climate-neutral car by 2030 by eliminating emissions from the supply chain and changing the way cars are made, rather than planting trees to offset CO2 emissions.

It says transport is the fastest-growing greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sector, expected to reach a share of more than 30% of total GHG emissions.

 Interested parties should contact Polestar by March 23 this year.

Giltrap Group is New Zealand’s official Polestar agent.

In the coming three years, Polestar plans to launch one new EV per year, starting with Polestar 3 in 2022 – its first electric performance SUV. A smaller electric performance SUV coupe Polestar 4 is expected to follow in 2023.

 In 2024, the Polestar 5 electric performance 4-door GT is planned to be launched as the production evolution of Polestar Precept.