Polestar has made an ambitious pledge to launch a “truly climate-neutral car” in 2030, and is now two years into a lengthy research and development programme aimed at determining how the environmental impact of its supply and construction processes could be slashed.
The programme is called Polestar 0 – a reflection of its intended environmental impact. Hans Pehrson, previously Polestar R&D boss and now charged with bringing it to fruition, stressed to Autocar that the aim is to create a “commercialised car” rather than a concept.
“What kind of car will come later – convertible, SUV, city car, whatever…” he said, explaining that the 10-year programme (which began in 2020) is divided into three distinct stages.
“We have a detailed timeline to get there. We should have a production start in 2030. Three years before that point, we need to start detailed product development in the automotive business: 36 months is quite common.
“Before that starts, we need to look into architecture. Will we build it on aluminium, steel or something else? Will it be four-wheel drive? Will the battery be under the floor?”
Pehrson said his division will “have to be ready with really deep research” in 2025 in order for the company to meet its targets.
The research programme will take into account the impact of all materials, components and processes used in car construction, but Pehrson said: “If we make a breakthrough this year or next year, we can implement them in a model-year change or in a new car launching in 2024, 2025 or 2026.”
Polestar has so far integrated more than 30 companies into the 0 project and it demonstrated the work of some of these at its Polestar Day event in Los Angeles.
These include seats made using 'fossil-free steel' from a company called SSAB, plastics from Dama BioPlastics that are made using plant waste, and a material called PaperShell that turns paper back into wood.
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Polestar come out with more bullsh*t comments than most other car makers, and this is no different. Apparently, being 'climate neutral', which is a term I've never heard of, is now a sales gimmick. Whatever it takes to attract the tree-huggers I guess.
To be honest, it seems they're genuinely committed, ok,I'd like to see their take on a car for all, just like today's cars, something under £30K .
Gotta be the last Polestar article, they're running out of numbers.
Yes. They seem to be tieing themselves in knots with their model numbering.