The Polestar 2 Electric (Hatchback): The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Polestar 2 Electric Hatchback

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Polestar is a high performance Swedish automotive brand established by Volvo in 1996. Polestar is headquartered close to Gothenburg, Sweden. The genesis of the Polestar brand is linked to motorsport, in particular, Flash Engineering, a Swedish motorsport team. Flash Engineering was rebranded to Polestar Racing in 2005.

Polestar was acquired by Volvo Cars in 2015, with the brand being repositioned as an EV brand from 2017. Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding Group in 2010. Geely, a Chinese automotive behemoth also owns Lotus Cars, well known for its luxury sport cars. The company’s portfolio of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) include:

• All-electric Polestar 2 (BEV)
• All-electric Polestar 3 (BEV)
• All-electric Polestar 4 (BEV)

Volvo Cars, the Swedish luxury vehicles manufacturer, announced in 2017 that Polestar would commence manufacturing high-end performance electric vehicles (EVs) to compete head-on against Tesla. The manufacturer introduced the first Polestar car in October 2017, the limited edition hybrid Polestar 1, inspired by Volvo’s Concept Coupe introduced in 2013.  Fast forward to 2019, and Polestar had unveiled its first mass-market 5 door all-electric car, the Polestar 2. 

The Polestar 2 interior has the hallmarks of classic Volvo styling with ‘minimalism’ and ‘clean Scandinavian design’ at its core. However, the CEO of Polestar has been quick to point out that the Polestar 2 design has not been limited by traditional Volvo designs based on practicality, comfort and safety. The Polestar 2 has been designed in a more progressive and performance oriented manner. The interiors themes have been curated around three cities as inspiration: Shanghai, Berlin and London. 

The all-electric hatchback is perfect for families already familiar with the advantages of owning and driving a Volvo car i.e. a fantastic reputation for safety and quality. Of course, the electric Polestar further enhances this enviable reputation, given the environment-friendly nature of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) i.e. no tailpipe pollution!

The Polestar 2 is available in two EV battery options: 69 kWh (standard range) and 78 kWh (long range). The standard range has a claimed zero-tailpipe emission electric range up to 477 km (WLTP) and the long range has an e-range up to 550 km.

Pure electric cars have come a long way over the past decade, with a 500 km EV range now fast becoming the norm. In face, ‘range anxiety’ is fast disappearing from the narrative on electric driving, as consumers become more confident of the available range and the public EV charging infrastructure.

Even adjusting for real-world driving i.e. weather, road conditions, driving profile, load etc, the Polestar offers excellent pure electric range for short and long distance driving. For the 69 kWh EV battery, expect a real-world range closer to 400 km and for the 78 kWh, a 465 km EV range.

For longer motorway driving trips, the Polestar electric car offers DC charging capability up to 155 kW. The smaller 69 kWh EV variant can be charged up to 130 kW DC (10%-80%: 35 minutes). While the larger 78 kWh EV battery variant can be charged up to 155 kW DC (10%-80%: 35 minutes). Just enough time to get a coffee and have a brief rest before getting along with journey.

The Polestar EV offers a 3-phase 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard. However, given that the majority of homes have single-phase power supply, taking advantage of the 22 kW onboard charger will be only for those with access to three-phase EV charging at home, work or at a public destination.

At 11 kW, the 69 kWh EV battery can be fully charged in 7 hours, while the 78 kWh EV battery will take up to 8 hours to fully charge. Single-phase EV charging will take longer (up to 12 hours for the larger EV battery). We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight at home, when the electricity tariff rates are cheaper.

The Polestar family electric car is available as front-wheel drive (FWD) and an all-wheel drive (AWD). However the AWD is only available with the larger 78 kWh EV battery. In terms of performance, the EV does not disappoint. The Standard Range Single Motor variant can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.0 seconds (max power: 228 bhp). The top speed is 160 km/h. The top of the range, Long Range Dual Motor can achieve 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (max power: 402 bhp). The top speed is 205 km/h.

In terms of technology and features, the EV has much to offer either as standard or an option upgrade pack. These include: energy saving heat pump, wireless mobile phone charging, Google built-in, Digital key with pre-climate, 2-zone climate system, over-the-air updates, rear camera, front and rear park assist, keyless entry and more. In terms of practicality, the EV offers a 405 L boot space.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The Polestar 2 electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Available in two EV battery sizes	Energy saving heat pump not a standard option
Good pure electric range and 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard	DC charging limited to 155 kW
Available as FWD and AWD	Colour options relatively dull colours

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The All-Electric Polestar 2 Hatchback (credit: Polestar)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Hatchback
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Trims (1 Option)
Polestar 2 (from ₹ N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in two battery sizes: 69 kWh/ 78 kWh
Charging:	150 kW Rapid Charging. On board charger: 11kW AC
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1479
Width (mm):	1985
Length (mm):	4606
Wheelbase (mm):	2735
Turning Circle (m):	11.9
Boot Space (L):	405

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Standard Range Single Motor
EV Battery Capacity:	69 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	477 km
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	171
Charging:	130 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 35 mins). Onboard charger: 11kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs)
Top Speed:	160 km/h
0-100 km/h:	7.0 seconds
Drive:	Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	170
Horsepower (bhp):	228
Torque (lb-ft):	243
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight (kg):	2,198
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Long Range Single Motor
EV Battery Capacity:	78 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	550 km
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	171
Charging:	155 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 35 mins). Onboard charger: 11kW AC (0%-100%: 8 hrs)
Top Speed:	160 km/h
0-100 km/h:	7.0 seconds
Drive:	Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	170
Horsepower (hp):	228
Torque (lb-ft):	243
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight (kg):	2,198
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Long Range Dual Motor
EV Battery Capacity:	78 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	485 km
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	194
Charging:	155 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 35 mins). Onboard charger: 11kW AC (0%-100%: 8 hrs)
Top Speed:	205 km/h
0-100 km/h:	4.5 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	300
Horsepower (hp):	402
Torque (lb-ft):	487
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight (kg):	2,198
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Electric Driving: Top 5 EV Jargons For India

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Despite the increased visibility of EVs in India, the vocabulary (jargon) used in electric driving is still new to consumers. In fact, for many, it can seem daunting and confusing. We have therefore put below some of the more commonly used terms in the EV glossary, to give you an easier introduction to electric driving in India!

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EV Glossary: Top 5
AC/DC (Alternating Current/ Direct Current):	What is AC/ DC current? AC and DC describe the type of ‘current flow’ in a circuit. Put simply, most household appliances, like the kettle, toaster and television, use AC, while the batteries used for remotes, flashlights etc use DC. In fact, all power supplied by the grid to a dwelling or building is AC power. Therefore, an electric car charging at home will use AC power. AC is a form of current invented by Nicholas Tesla that reverses its direction of movement constantly back and forth within the circuit, by changing its magnitude and polarity (between positive and negative), at regular intervals. Such current can easily be transformed from higher voltage to lower voltage. The primary difference between AC and DC is that, DC flows only in one direction.
DoD (Depth-Of-Charge):	What is Depth-Of-Charge? A battery’s Depth-of-Charge is the level of discharge of a battery. As you drive an EV, the battery is discharged. The DoD indicates the % that has been discharged relative to the capacity of a battery. Conversely, a State-of-Charge (SOC), is the percentage of capacity still available in a battery. If you use 25% of your EV battery capacity, then the DoD is 25% and the SOC is 75%. It is recommended not to fully discharge an electric car battery, as this reduces the lifespan of a battery. Automotive manufacturers publish recommend DoD levels for charging, but a charging range between 20% to 80% is ideal.
Earthed/ Grounded:	Users of electrical equipment are protected from electric shocks through a process called earthing. If there is a fault in the electric system, a user can be subject to an electric shock, as the electricity uses part of the body to travel. Earthing protects the user by proving a path for the fault current to reach the earth. As an example, the commonplace household 3-plug pin, has one wire that connects to the earth. Earthing also protects the electrical apparatus from voltage surges etc.
What is CCS charging?	It is a DC (direct current) rapid charging standard/ protocol for charging electric cars. It was introduced in 2011. The CCS standard includes the Type 2 (IEC 62196) connectors, along with two DC connectors (pins), in a single connector pattern (CCS Combo 2) in the electric vehicle (EV), with a total of nine pins. The two DC connectors (pins) are at the bottom, and enable faster DC charging and communication. The communication is between the EV charger and the electric car. Communication is via Pulse Width Modulation (PWM).
What is a Smart EV Charger?	A smart EV charger allows users to remotely monitor, manage and control the charging session. Though smart charging offers a number of benefits, the two key benefits are: energy use optimisation and cost efficiency. Smart chargers optimise the charging session and manages the load safely. A smart EV charger monitors electrical consumption and adjusts the charging session based on the available energy (dynamic load balancing). Smart charging also allow load balancing for locations with multiple EV charging stations. For such EV charging destinations, an operator can choose how best to distribute the available energy capacity across all active EV chargers.

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While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.

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