This completely climate neutral car by Polestar is targeted for launch by 2030.
While the in thing within the auto industry these days is to go green, Polestar has perhaps been one of the more climate conscious car manufacturers out there. Especially when taking into account the EV manufacturer’s industry-pioneering move of revealing exactly how much their cars have an environmental impact on our planet.
Plans are afoot though for the company to go even more green in the future. Firstly by announcing that Polestar targets to achieve carbon-neutral status by 2040, but more interestingly perhaps is its plans to build the ‘world’s first truly climate neutral car’ in the form of the Polestar 0.
Now Polestar’s declaration of climate/carbon neutrality isn’t anything really new within the auto industry. In fact, several automakers like GM, Audi, Nissan have already unveiled similar pledges over the last year.
Moreover, the idea of a climate neutral car isn’t exactly new. Volkswagen has pledged such a thing with its ID.3 EV before in fact. What is worth getting excited about regarding this Polestar 0 project though (in an environmental aspect at least) is that the EV manufacturer isn’t actually planning a climate neutral car via the traditional means of offsetting, but instead the automaker aims to decrease its emissions throughout the entire manufacturing process of this upcoming model.
“Offsetting is a cop-out,” says Thomas Ingenlath, the current CEO of Polestar. “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,” he added.
It still remains to be seen as to whether the 0 project will come to fruition or not, especially seeing as the car is not due for another 9 years (2030). Polestar however has also announced additional interim environmental measures to further its carbon conscious target in the future by beginning to apply sustainability declarations to all future models it produces.
Beginning with the Polestar 2, labelling that discloses the carbon footprint of its EVs and traced risk materials used to produce its cars will be easily accessible by its climate-conscious consumers through its websites and physical premises. An idea that is already common within the food and fashion industry, the automaker will become the first in the auto industry to implement this climate initiative.
Thomas Ingenlath states: “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. 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.”
PRESS RELEASE: In Polestar’s first annual review, published on 07 April 2021, the Swedish electric performance car brand announces its moonshot goal to create the first truly climate neutral car by 2030.
Environmental experts have warned that offsetting is not sustainable in the long run. Questions around the long-term carbon-storage capacity of forests and soils remain, as a forest might be logged, devastated by fire or altered by climate change.
“Offsetting is a cop-out,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “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, says: “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. 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.”
Climate action is already being incorporated throughout the Polestar business, and climate targets are integrated in the Polestar employee bonus system.
Product Sustainability Declaration
Sustainability declarations, common in industries like food and fashion, will be applied to all future Polestar models. Starting with Polestar 2 and initially disclosing carbon footprint and traced risk materials, labeling will appear on the company website and in Polestar Spaces, setting a unique transparency precedent for the industry. Reflecting continuous sustainability updates, additional details and information will be added over time.
Thomas Ingenlath adds: “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. 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.”
