Polestar continues to push forward towards sustainable motoring. The Swedish brand just announced that two of its vehicles, the 2 sedan and 3 SUV, now use batteries that include 50 percent recycled cobalt. In addition to reducing reliance on virgin materials, this increases visibility across the value chain. Additionally, it allows for keeping resources in use longer.
Beyond circularity and material sourcing, Polestar aims to extend the battery life and retain its value for as long as possible. This benefits both the environment and the customer experience. Polestar partners with Volvo Cars’ battery centers to refurbish high-voltage batteries. At these facilities, vehicles that require a new pack receive a refurbished battery, resulting in a circular flow. These packs also have an equivalent state of health to one they replace, improving overall battery value retention and reducing the environmental impact.
Since 2020, Polestar has advocated for greater climate transparency within the auto industry. It publishes life cycle assessments for every vehicle it makes and openly reports CO2 emissions throughout its value chain. The Swedish automaker set a benchmark for accountability when the Polestar 2 became the first car to include blockchain-traced cobalt.
For the brand, electrification merely marks the starting point of its broader sustainability strategy. It recently introduced smart charging integration, which reduced the relative CO2 emissions per vehicle by 25 percent since 2020. Most importantly, it did so while launching four new models.
The company aims to design premium performance vehicles that favor circular materials with lower impact across its lineup. These include the use of recycled aluminum and steel, base carpets and inlay carpets derived from ECONYL polyamide, and yarn made from PET waste. This allows customers to choose a more responsibly made car, especially in combination with a commitment to reducing material complexity and impact.
Source: Polestar
