Swedish electric performance car company Polestar has announced that it is working with a number of suppliers to develop a fully climate-neutral electric vehicle.
According to Polestar, it has now signed letters of intent to cooperate with partners from the metal, safety, driving systems and electronics sectors. These currently include SSAB, Hydro, ZF, ZKW and Autoliv, who will contribute to the Polestar 0 project that the carmaker announced last year.
“It was clear from the start that this is not a solo-mission and we are very excited to present such a strong line-up of interested partners, all leaders within their fields. We are leveraging innovation and collaboration to address the climate crisis,” said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.
Indeed, the project aims to unite companies across the automotive supply chain in order to help the transport sector play its part in reducing climate impact.
Polestar has also announced an invitation to other suppliers, researchers, universities, entrepreneurs, investors, and governmental and non-governmental organisations, for possible collaboration. On top of the open call, Polestar will be reaching out to researchers from across the globe through SDSN, the world’s largest academic network, working in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
Currently, nordic steel and metals producer SSAB intends to collaborate with Polestar on fossil-free steel, which could potentially replace not only conventional steel in a car but also other materials with significant carbon footprints. Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company Hydro intends to collaborate with Polestar’s experts on zero-carbon aluminium, while automotive systems supplier ZF intends to explore with Polestar how their innovation in electric powertrain and overall systems competence could eliminate carbon emissions and save resources.
Furthermore, automotive safety supplier Autoliv intends to partner with Polestar on safety equipment such as airbags and seatbelts with zero emissions, with automotive lighting manufacturer ZKW also intending to team up with Polestar on climate-neutral electrical control systems and wiring.
“We believe in the exponential development of climate solution technologies. For this project, we must tap into solutions that are still in the innovation stage. Even more exciting is that the solutions we develop will not only benefit the automotive industry overall but help decarbonise manufacturing and society more widely as well,” said Hans Pehrson, leader of the Polestar 0 Project and former Head of R&D at Polestar.
“Wherever we look in the world we see materials like steel, aluminium, electronics and rubber. Imagine when we can make these materials climate-neutral to produce. Together, we can make the seemingly impossible possible.”
Keyword: Call for further partners to join Polestar 0 project