The Polestar 2 upgrade is a substantial improvement in the level of vehicle sustainability certification. Polaris requires that all leather used in products must comply with the strictest animal protection standards and the five freedoms regarding animal welfare.
Battery components, construction and performance also benefit from continuous improvement. Circulor is a blockchain partner of Polestar, and in addition to cobalt, they have now added mica to their list of traceable minerals. For aluminum trays for battery housings, CO2e per vehicle (all versions) is reduced, as Polestar decided to buy aluminum only from smelters that use renewable energy.
In addition to the overall improvement in traceability of battery minerals, the monolithic battery chemistry of the Polestar 2 Single Motor Standard Endurance Edition battery has also been improved, with battery capacity increasing from 64 kWh to 69 kWh, resulting in an increase in range of 30 km (WLTP up to 474 km), motor power from 165 kW to 170 kW, and maximum DC charging speed from 116 kW to 130 kW.
The concept of sustainability has been integrated into all aspects of Polestar. As a result, Polestar combines CO2 reduction programs with cost reduction programs commonly used in the industry. Fredrika Klarén, Director of Sustainability at Polestar, noted. "The first pilot program has been rolled out, where we buy low-carbon aluminium produced from renewable sources to replace the aluminium that was originally used in the wheels," Klarén explains. "We expect this move to reduce the CO2e of The Polestar 2 by 600 kg in the second half of the year."
The updated Polestar 2 models can now be ordered online. Deliveries are expected starting in September 2022, and Polestar guarantees that it will still be fully capable of delivering orders.