Polestar is ramping up its efforts to slash supply chain emissions by adopting renewable fuels for its ocean freight routes, which make up around 75% of the company’s total transportation emissions. Moreover, Polestar’s Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) in Belgium is now powered entirely by renewable electricity.
The VPC acts as a hub for vehicle finishing and preparation before delivery to European customers, including charging vehicles with renewable electricity. As Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 production increases, renewable fuel will initially fuel about 65% of outbound ocean freight from Asia to Polestar’s VPC in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
In the latter half of the year, Polestar plans to introduce renewable fuels for freight from North America, coinciding with Polestar 3 production expansion in South Carolina. By using B30 Biofuel, consisting of 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME), emissions from these shipping routes could drop by approximately 20-25% compared to conventional Sulphur fuel oils.
To decarbonize inbound ocean freight for production materials and spare parts distribution, Polestar has transitioned to 100% FAME fuel, slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 84% compared to fossil fuels. The FAME fuel is derived from renewable sources like waste cooking oil, avoiding palm oil or palm oil-related feedstock.
Jonas Engström, Head of Operations at Polestar, emphasized, “This marks a significant milestone in Polestar’s journey toward climate neutrality by 2040. Achieving true climate neutrality means eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions across our operations and all phases of our cars’ life cycles, including emissions from the supply chain.” Polestar’s recent Sustainability Report for 2023 revealed a 9% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per sold car compared to 2022, showcasing the potential to decouple growth from increased emissions.
Polestar, a Swedish electric performance car brand, is dedicated to advancing sustainable mobility through design and technology. With headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, its electric vehicles are available online in 27 markets globally across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Polestar plans to unveil a lineup of five performance EVs by 2026, including the Polestar 2 fastback, Polestar 3 SUV, Polestar 4 SUV coupé, Polestar 5 GT, and Polestar 6 roadster. The Polestar 0 project aligns with the company’s ambitious goal of creating a climate-neutral production car by 2030, urging employees, suppliers, and the wider automotive industry to accelerate towards zero emissions.