That is my magnesium Polestar 2 which I bought on the twenty second of April this yr and have pushed 15,000 kilometers.
My unique alternative was to order from the manufacturing facility with Napa leather-based seats and all of the extras. When the struggle began in Ukraine and microprocessors began to turn out to be scarce, I cancelled that order and claimed an out there pre-delivered mannequin in Australia.
That has turned out to be a very good choice, as some Polestar 2 patrons are nonetheless ready for his or her particular alternative. My automobile has the twin motor, lengthy vary battery, and three further packs – Efficiency, Pilot, and Plus (also known as “PPP” amongst homeowners).
The Efficiency Pack provides Brembo brakes, a stiffer chassis, adjustable Ohlins dampers, 20” solid alloy wheels and special-edition seat belts.
The Pilot Pack has options similar to 360° digital camera; driver help with Pilot Help, Adaptive Cruise Management, and Emergency Cease Help; Driver consciousness with Blind Spot Info System (BLIS) with steering help, Cross Site visitors Alert with brake help, and Rear Collision Warning & Mitigation; Routinely dimmed exterior mirrors, and Park Help aspect. A few of these options are usually not out there on newer fashions because of the microprocessor scarcity. This pack is at present being provided as “Pilot Lite.”
The Plus Pack provides full-length panoramic roof with projected Polestar image, full energy seats together with 4-way energy lumbar help (reminiscence on driver seat), mechanical extension and backrest storage nets, vegan WeaveTech upholstery in Charcoal with Black ash deco inlays, local weather warmth pump (makes use of waste warmth from the motor and the battery to regulate temperature and improve actual life vary), Harman Kardon Premium Sound and 4 USB-C connectors, plus 15W inductive smartphone telephone charger.
On the twenty second of Could Polestar provided an influence improve to the twin motor fashions that has elevated the facility output to 350 kw (476 horsepower) and 680 Nm of torque. This improve was delivered OTA (over the air).
Picture courtesy of Gavin Janson.
Picture courtesy of Gavin Janson.
Buy Worth:
The next compares the costs of Volvo hi-performance automobiles in AUD over time adjusted to present yr costs for inflation. My Polestar 2 is a cut price.
2022 POLESTAR 2 $99,635
1996 VOLVO 850R $159,800
2004 VOLVO S60R $159,300
2014 VOLVO S60 POLESTAR $126,000
I’ve tried to discover a petrol automobile of comparable dimension and efficiency as my Polestar 2 that may do 0 to 100 km/ hr underneath 4.3 seconds. The closest is the Porsche Cayenne GTS coupe with 4.5 seconds 0 to 100 km/hr, which prices AUD$233,370 model new in Brisbane.
There are cheaper automobiles that may match the acceleration and efficiency of the Polestar 2, however they don’t have the scale or consolation.
Picture courtesy of Gavin Janson.
Working Prices:
The Polestar 2 is utilizing 18.5 kWh/100 km for the 15,000 km, for a complete of two,775 kWh.
I’ve bought a complete of $194.39 (648 kWh) from public chargers and the remainder of the charging is accomplished at my shed that has photo voltaic panels and a Zappi charger. The charger has a setting that may solely use solar energy.
For an correct costing of electrical energy, I’ve used the price of electrical energy from the charger on the price my electrical energy firm would pay for it. My electrical energy supplier pays me solely 7.5c/ kWh for electrical energy returned to the grid. The price of electrical energy from the shed equates to 2127 kWh x 7.5c = $159.53. Whole price of electrical energy is $353.92. Extra on the charger later. The associated fee to run our S60 T5 utilizing premium petrol and averaging $2.10 a liter during the last yr (this worth is on the low aspect) would equate to $3,150.
This makes a saving for Polestar 2 of $2,800 over solely 15,000 km in lower than 5 months. This saving has paid for my Zappi Charger.
The 2017 S60 T5 Luxurious, used for work and primarily pushed across the metropolis, suggested us {that a} service was due at 13,695 km with the price of that service at $548.39. The Polestar 2 just isn’t due for a service till 2 years. It is a additional saving of $548.39. The motors are all the time able to go and the park brake disengages itself.
These early figures counsel a saving of over $6,000 a yr or 22c a km in case you journey 15,000 km a yr. I normally journey in extra of 30,000 km a yr so my financial savings shall be about $12,000 a yr.
Driving Expertise:
SILENT, SMOOTH, SAFE, STABLE, AND SIMPLE.
Leaving outright efficiency apart, the best characteristic of the electrical automobile is the driving expertise. Absolutely the quietness of the automobile is wonderful. The leisure system within the automobile doesn’t need to be loud to be heard and loved.
The sleek and easy acceleration at any pace makes overtaking protected and simple. Corners virtually don’t exist in a Polestar 2, which has a low middle of gravity. This automobile by no means lets go of the street.
A tremendous characteristic of the Polestar 2 is not any ignition swap or hand brake. Simply sit within the driver’s seat and have interaction ahead or reverse and speed up away. The motors are all the time able to go and the park brake disengages itself. Nothing to do when exiting the automobile, simply open the door and stroll away, the automobile turns every thing off and locks up.
Zappi Charger
My photo voltaic panels are producing over 5 kW with 3.7 kW going into the automobile and energy left over to run the system. The entire course of is 100% photo voltaic with no grid wanted. The charger can pace as much as 11 kW utilizing the grid if wanted.
Guarantee & Batteries
The guarantee for the Polestar 2 is similar to any new Volvo with a 5-year guarantee for defective supplies or manufacturing points and 12 years for corrosion points. The battery within the Polestar 2 comes with an 8-year guarantee with an acknowledgement {that a} small lack of battery capability over time is regular, nonetheless if the battery capability reduces beneath 70% of its unique capability throughout the first 8 years of possession, Polestar will substitute your battery freed from cost.
Examples of lengthy life for batteries are beginning to seem. A latest article concerning the Nissan Leaf that has been out for 11 years suggests that the majority batteries are nonetheless functioning usually with little or no lack of capability. In Australia we have now a Tesla (roughly 7 years previous) at present getting used as a limousine service in northern NSW that has lined over 500,000 km and solely misplaced 10% capability. Battery life just isn’t a difficulty for me.
New Vehicles, New Nations:
Folks seeing the Polestar 2 invariably ask the place it’s manufactured, and I reply it’s made in China. The standard derogatory feedback are made about China-made merchandise. I’m very pleased with the end of the automobile and so are all others who’ve a very good have a look at it.
I’m sufficiently old to recollect the Seventies when Japanese automobiles got here to Australia and feedback have been made saying they have been no good — Toyota, Datsun, Mazda, and Honda. That argument didn’t final lengthy. Within the Nineteen Nineties the Koreans began bringing automobiles to Australia they usually have been no good — Hyundai and Kia. That argument didn’t final lengthy. China makes a variety of the Volvos that come to Australia and the Polestar 2 is made in the identical manufacturing facility. Don’t choose till you attempt.
OPD (One Pedal Driving):
When it’s good to decelerate, all it’s good to do is increase your foot on the accelerator. The automobile begins to gradual because of the regenerative braking methods in electrified automobiles. When an EV brakes, the electrical motor acts as a generator, changing kinetic power from the automobile’s ahead movement into electrical energy. This electrical energy recharges the battery whereas the automobile is slowing. The upper you carry your foot the faster the automobile slows, and the automobile will come to a whole cease in case you carry off the accelerator utterly.
One-pedal driving is handy, too. Transferring your foot between two pedals is extra work than protecting it in a single place. When you’re comfy with one-pedal driving, it’s merely a extra relaxed solution to journey. Lastly, the stopping section of one-pedal driving typically feels smoother than making use of hydraulic brakes.
Vary Nervousness
The one individuals who expertise vary nervousness are those who’ve by no means pushed or owned an EV. My Polestar has a spread of about 435 km, which far exceeds any of my driving wants and I don’t know why anybody would want to drive additional than that with out stopping. I journey in all places with a canine and am all the time stopping recurrently. All governments suggest having a break at about 2 hours for security causes. My latest return journey to Cairns lined over 3,500 km in 8 days. I included further planning on distances and EV charger areas and had no points that I might not have had with an inside combustion automobile.
Whereas charging at Proserpine I bumped into an area who had basic automobiles from the 60s and needed to speak to me about electrical automobiles typically. After some time he acknowledged electrical autos would by no means be good for him as a result of he wants a automobile that may get him to Townsville for specialist physician appointments. The spherical journey is underneath 600 km. He additionally acknowledged that he would solely go to Townsville E annually and would keep in a single day.
That is excellent for an electrical automobile, as every manner is definitely accomplished on a single cost and there’s an EV charger on the hospital that he can cost his automobile whereas at his appointment. He abruptly needed to know extra about my automobile after this argument failed.
Picture courtesy of Gavin Janson.
Conclusion
My Polestar 2 has exceeded all expectations and is nice to drive. This doesn’t imply I shall be promoting my 1964 P1800S, 1968 123 GT, 1990 740 GL, 1992 240GL, 2017 S60 T5, or my 1987 Datsun 1200 Utility.
I take pleasure in all my automobiles and every automobile has a uniqueness and particular motive for protecting. All I might say to everyone seems to be attempt an EV earlier than you cross an ill-informed remark.
Photos courtesy of Gavin Janson.
By Gavin Janson.
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