Korean battery deal for Polestar 5

POLESTAR and South Korean battery manufacturer SK On have signed an agreement on the supply of battery cell modules for the forthcoming Polestar 5.

According to Polestar, SK On was selected for the project owing to its superior battery cell technology that offers high-performing chemistry, fast charging, efficient discharging, and superior driving range.

“Our relationship with SK On has been fruitful following our initial MOU and their investment in our brand. Polestar 5 is developing at pace and will feature this high-capacity battery to provide the performance expected of our grand tourer,” said Polestar chief executive officer, Thomas Ingenlath.

The high-nickel battery cell modules comprise ultra-long 560mm cells packing high energy density and have also demonstrated superb safety credentials, successfully passing stringent Thermal Propagation (TP) tests.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Polestar on its top-tier EV model. We will solidify our partnership with Polestar and create new opportunities through this agreement,” said SK On chief executive officer, Jee Dong-seob.

Built on a bonded aluminium platform, the lightweight and rigid design of the Polestar 5 is said to deliver benefits including “superlative performance and environmental advantages” over traditional steel monocoques, while also doing away with “labour-intensive production methods of the past”.

Polestar says it has devised an entirely new – and notably faster – manufacturing process through which the 5’s body and platform can be developed simultaneously. The 5’s body-in-white is expected to weigh less than that of cars in smaller segments, which should contribute to improved efficiency (real-world EV range) and dynamic responsiveness, while delivering leading safety levels.

The process may also facilitate faster product introductions and higher build quality, Polestar says.

In developing its bonded aluminium technology for the Polestar 5, the company was able to produce a four-door GT car with superior torsional rigidity to traditional sports- and supercars.

At the time of development, Polestar’s head of research and development, Pete Allen, said the decision to develop a bespoke platform has also enabled the brand to deliver a production model that remains true to the 2020 Precept concept car that inspired it.

“We knew we wanted this car to be lightweight, we knew we wanted it to be high quality and we knew we wanted it quickly,” he said.

“This architecture delivers outstanding dynamic and safety attributes, with low investment technology applicable to high production volumes.”

Mr Allen said that development of the Polestar 5 continues “at pace”, with 500 engineers expected to be working on the project over the coming months.

The Polestar 5 is expected to begin production from 2025. The model is an evolution of the Polestar Precept concept premiered on the company’s 2020 YouTube Series, From Concept to Car, and was shown in pre-production form at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Polestar 5 is expected to lock horns with the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S when it emerges in production form. The GT-style four-door sedan features 800-volt battery architecture and is powered by a dual motor arrangement offering all-wheel drive and peak outputs of 650kW and 900Nm.