The Polestar 3 footprint has been reduced to 24.7 tCO2e by reducing aluminum and battery emissions.

Polestar creates unique e-performance models that combine compact design with innovative technology and sustainable solutions. Continuing to innovate in sustainability, the total carbon footprint of Polestar’s first electric performance SUV, the Polestar 3, is lower than that of the smaller Polestar 2 when it was launched in 2020: 24.7 tCO₂e against 26,1 tCO₂e. The brand shows that the impact on the climate can also be reduced by a large SUV.

Most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from the mining and processing of various materials, such as aluminum and steel, and the manufacture of batteries. The Polestar 3’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) shows that manufacturing and material improvements account for 68% of its start-to-gate footprint. 24% of this mark is caused by the use of aluminum, 17% by iron and steel and 24% by the production of battery modules.

Polestar not only focuses on the implementation of existing solutions, but also looks at new ways to reduce emissions that have not yet been considered possible. An existing solution, for example, is the use of aluminum produced using renewable electricity. In the future, steel can also be made from renewable energy. The brand is also looking at completely new solutions related to electronics, tires and thermoplastic materials.

Lessons learned from carbon dioxide reduction when launching Polestar 3’s ambitious goal.₂footprint of the Polestar 2. As a result, 81% of the total aluminum production of the Polestar 3, the production of the Li-ion battery cell module and the anode and the production of the cathode material are done with 100% renewable electricity. This approach can save 8.5 tCO2e.

The Polestar 3 will be built exclusively at Volvo Cars’ plant in Chengdu, China, with additional production expected to begin in mid-2024 in South Carolina, USA. Both factories use 100% renewable electricity. A separate LCA will be created for units to be manufactured in a factory in the United States.

Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar: “Most of the greenhouse gas emissions in a car come from the extraction and processing of materials. As we accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, we can also do more to reduce emissions-related emissions, further strengthening the role of electric vehicles as a climate solution. Polestar 3 is proof of that.

The LCA report is largely transparent about the environmental impact of the vehicle. The LCA has been calculated based on three different power combinations and a driving distance of 200,000 km. The method for evaluating the phase of electricity use has been updated to include more realistic conditions from the IEA (International Energy Agency) which considers a large part of renewable energy sources, emphasizing their ability to reduce vehicle emissions during the use phase. For the first time, Polestar is now also taking vehicle maintenance into account in the LCA. Cradle-to-grave CO₂Polestar 3 footprint ranges from 28.5 to 44.5 tCO₂e, based on the electricity used to charge the SUV during its lifetime.

The LCA report was carried out in accordance with ISO 14067:2018 and is the first Polestar LCA report to be evaluated by a third party, the international strategy, environment and engineering company Ricardo plc.