Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath says while electric cars do in fact pave the way for a cleaner planet, they aren’t completely environmentally friendly. This dispels the idea that EVs alone are the solution for global sustainability
As reported by Auto Motor and Sport, Ingenlath says “Electric cars are not environmentally friendly per se, but electric cars pave the way to a clean planet. We cannot be satisfied with empty phrases on the way to a clean planet.”
When it comes to electrified cars, it is noted that battery production, steel and aluminium have a high CO2 footprint, according to Ingenlath. He says that the motoring industry must answer the question of how to build a car that leaves the factory with no CO2 emissions.
“That is not feasible today,” conceded Ingenlath. But adds that this is the goal the industry must strive for. The key to a climate-neutral car is the massive expansion of renewable energies. Ingenlath calls for the motoring industry to do its part to convince society of this and devise a standard to make the CO2 load of electric cars comparable.
When asked about Polestar becoming climate neutral by 2030, Ingenlath says “It’s a gigantic project. On the way there [Polestar] will gain a lot of knowledge and understanding. We rely heavily on blockchain technology to check where the raw materials come from and work with suppliers on new processes and materials. We have to question everything, be innovative and also rely on completely new technologies.”
