Polestar switches to batteries with 50% recycled cobalt
Polestar is celebrating a significant milestone in its broader strategy to reduce dependence on primary raw materials, increase transparency across the entire value chain, and keep valuable resources in circulation for longer. More than half of the cobalt used in the batteries of the new Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 now comes from secondary sources.
However, the company’s circular economy strategy extends beyond sourcing materials for new components. The batteries are designed to maximise their lifespan during the usage phase, preserving the value of the vehicles, ‘which benefits both the environment and the customer experience,’ as Polestar puts it.
If a Polestar 2 or Polestar 3 requires a battery replacement, the carmaker will install a refurbished energy storage system.
“Customers receive refurbished replacement batteries with an equivalent state-of-health,” says Polestar, adding that it ‘is also establishing recycling partnerships across all its markets to meet producer responsibility requirements while extending battery lifecycles and maximising material recovery.’ Polestar collaborates with the battery centres of Volvo Cars to refurbish high-voltage batteries.
While the vehicles and their batteries are mostly still too new to fully assess their longevity and sustainability, Polestar emphasises ‘climate transparency’ in its customer communication. Since 2020, the car manufacturer has published a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for each model, reporting on CO₂ equivalent emissions across the entire value chain. Polestar has reduced CO₂ emissions per vehicle by 25 per cent since 2020.
“To drive a Polestar is an intentional choice by customers who care about tomorrow,” said Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar. “Electrification, powered by renewable energy and enabled by circular battery materials, points to a new kind of system: one where resources stay in use and abundance replaces depletion.”
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