The Polestar 2 has been updated with less carbon dioxide emission during production, better battery capacity, blockchain technology, and new colours.
The Swedish automotive company’s CEO Thomas Ingenlath said Polestar had revisited all materials and processes in making the car to reduce climate impact and improve material traceability.
He said: “These are important additions to how we can improve cars over their lifetime – not just with functionality and design updates but also addressing sustainability and carbon footprint.”
According to Polestar’s head of sustainability Fredrika Klarén, the automotive manufacturer replaced its wheels with low-carbon aluminium. He said the change would reduce 600 kg of carbon dioxide emission per car for the Polestar 2 in the second half of this year.
The Polestar 2 Standard Range Single Motor will come with improved cell chemistry leading to a higher capacity (now 69 kWh), increased range (now up to 474 km / 296 miles WLTP), faster charging (now up to 130 kW DC), and higher motor output (170 kW). This ungraded battery will help lower carbon dioxide emissions by 750 kg per car.
Fredrika Klarén added: “Together with the improvements to aluminium in the battery tray, we’re expecting to see a total reduction of around 1,350 kg per car.”
Partnered with Circulor, the automotive company also includes blockchain traceability of mica and cobalt that is already traced in Polestar 2 batteries, allowing Polestar to trace risk minerals from material source to finished product.
For design detail, drivers can expect interior materials to come from renewable, recyclable, and recycled materials, along with a vegan upholstery option.
“We require that all leather used in Polestar products live up to the strictest standards on animal welfare and the Five Freedoms [framework to capture key aspects of animal welfare], alongside being fully traceable and chrome-free,” said Fredrika Klarén.
He added that their new Scottish leather supplier, Bridge of Weir, had met all requirements.
Two new exterior colours are Space (replaces Void) and Jupiter (replaces Moon). Magnesium will become the default standard colour with no additional cost.