The EV maker will collaborate with component suppliers to develop greener manufacturing processes.
- In expanding its lineup, Polestar will work with several high-profile suppliers to develop climate-neutral manufacturing processes.
- Creating a climate-neutral car means eliminating emissions from the supply chain.
- Polestar parent company Volvo is in the process of transitioning its plants to a climate-neutral status.
Polestar’s parent company Volvo is already on track for all of its factories to be climate-neutral by 2025, but what about building a car that’s also climate-neutral?
That’s the goal of the Polestar 0 Project, and it has enlisted supplier partners to help make this happen by 2030, intent on reassessing how each component in a car is produced and eliminating emissions from the supply chain.
The task itself involves achieving net-zero carbon-dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process, with the broader definition also including other greenhouse gases. This can be achieved either by eliminating the emissions themselves, or balancing the existing emissions with an act that removes other carbon emissions from the environment.
“It was clear from the start that this is not a solo-mission, and we are very excited to present such a strong lineup of interested partners—all leaders within their fields. We are leveraging innovation and collaboration to address the climate crisis,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.
Notably, Polestar doesn’t intend to purchase carbon credits or engage in environmental gestures or donations, but instead the automaker will cooperate with its suppliers to achieve climate-neutrality during the parts manufacturing process.
This includes even the metals that go into an automobile, with Polestar working with steel and metals producer SSAB to produce fossil-free steel. The automaker also plans to work with renewable energy and aluminum company Hydro to create aluminum that is zero-carbon.
Polestar plans to examine how major EV components are manufactured, working with German supplier ZF to eliminate carbon emissions from the components it creates for Polestar vehicles. The focus will include the smallest components such as wiring, with Polestar planning to work with automotive safety supplier Autoliv and lighting manufacturer ZKW on climate-neutral components.
“We believe in the exponential development of climate solution technologies,” said Hans Pehrson, leader of the Polestar 0 Project and former head of R&D at Polestar. “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 decarbonize manufacturing and society more widely as well.
“Wherever we look in the world we see materials like steel, aluminum, electronics, and rubber. Imagine when we can make these materials climate-neutral to produce. Together, we can make the seemingly impossible possible.”
Polestar’s parent company has already succeeded in making its oldest operating plant in Torslanda, Sweden, climate-neutral though several carefully executed improvements, including switching to climate-neutral electricity all the way back in 2008.
However, converting an assembly plant for climate-neutral operation is one thing—as many of the smallest components aren’t actually produced in Torslanda but instead are built elsewhere and shipped to the plant—but actually building the components in a climate-neutral manner is something different.
This process will take time, especially when it comes to optimizing the manufacturing methods and sourcing raw materials for vehicle components—an issue that is drawing more attention with the debuts of several large and very expensive EVs in the past year.
Keyword: Polestar Wants to Create a Climate-Neutral Car