Everything starts and ends at zero. The task: to build a CO₂-neutral car.
The Polestar 0 project was launched in 2021 with the conviction that the automotive industry needs a complete overhaul. While the shift to electric cars eliminates exhaust emissions, Polestar recognises the need to urgently address the emissions that occur during production. The ambitious goal of the Polestar 0 project is to eliminate all CO₂ sources throughout the supply chain, from raw material extraction to material and vehicle production to delivery and end-of-life, without relying on misleading compensation programs.
Hans Pehrson, head of the Polestar 0 project, comments: “My conviction in the success of the Polestar 0 project is reaffirmed every time we meet with new collaborators. It’s clear that there is immense potential to tap into around the globe. Achieving the seemingly impossible is never a one-man show. It is only through collective action that we can achieve the breakthroughs that truly make a difference and find the transformative solutions that go beyond the car industry.”
Basic materials research is fundamental, so bio-sources and mining, followed by refining and man-made materials, are key to success. More academic and corporate partners are needed, and the search for suppliers of raw materials, bio-based chemicals, polymers, electrical components, noble gases and other basic materials continues. With the goal of bringing the car to market by 2030, solving the remaining missing elements is of utmost urgency. For the Polestar 0 project, Schlötter will focus on capturing and visualising all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the existing supply chain and end-of-life of electroplating chemicals and processes in electronics and corrosion protection.
