Swedish electric carmaker Polestar has announced that it has achieved an 8% reduction in CO2-equivalent emissions per car over the past year, thanks to the use of greener metals and 100% renewable power at its major factory and suppliers. This reduction comes on top of the 5% reduction achieved in 2021, bringing the total reduction to 13%.
The company recorded sales of 51,491 vehicles in 2022, an 80% increase compared to the 27,677 it sold in 2021. According to its third Annual Sustainability Report released this week, Polestar was able to reduce its relative CO2-equivalent emissions by around 8% to 37.1 tonnes per sold car.
CEO Thomas Ingenlath said: “As a pure EV-maker, we cannot pat ourselves on the back, confident we’ve done our bit. We are just getting started, and not having a legacy technology to phase out just means we can focus on what is in our power to change – supply chain decarbonisation.”
Polestar attributed the reduction in emissions to a number of factors, including selling cars in markets with a good grid mix, sustainability upgrades to the Polestar, and the use of renewable energy at its main manufacturing plant in Taizhou, China. The company also switched aluminium suppliers for the wheels and battery trays used in the Polestar 2, which resulted in a 1.2 tonne reduction of emissions per car. Additionally, 19 inch rims now use aluminium produced with renewable energy, reducing the carbon footprint by 0.5 tonnes CO2e per car. Finally, a higher proportion of sales of single motor variants of its Polestar 2 also resulted in less energy use.
Polestar’s commitment to reducing emissions is commendable and sets an example for other electric vehicle manufacturers. With the right strategies and investments in renewable energy sources, it is possible for companies to reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the environment.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: It depends on the charger and the location. Some electric car chargers are free, while others may require a fee.
Q3: Can electric car batteries be rebuilt?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be rebuilt with the right tools and knowledge.
