Polestar is poised to launch in France in 2025, eight years after its independence from Volvo, following a resolved logo dispute. The introduction will feature popular models like the Polestar 2, 3, and 4, alongside the new Polestar 5. A standout offering, Polestar Energy, aims to help users reduce home charging costs by up to 30% through bidirectional charging technology, enabling vehicles to return energy to the grid and potentially lower electricity bills.
Polestar’s Exciting Launch in France
It’s official! Polestar is set to make its long-awaited debut in France, marking a milestone eight years after establishing itself as an independent entity from Volvo. The delay in entry was primarily due to a logo dispute with Citroën, which has now been resolved as of 2024. The brand has confirmed its official launch will take place in 2025.
Introducing Polestar Energy and New Models
As part of this exciting launch, Polestar will not only introduce its well-known models, including the Polestar 2, 3, and 4, but also the new sedan, Polestar 5, slated for release in the latter half of 2025. The latest press announcement from the Sino-Scandinavian manufacturer, which is under the umbrella of the Geely group, reveals additional exciting developments for French consumers.
One of the key features is a new service called Polestar Energy, designed to help customers significantly cut down their electricity expenses. According to Polestar, users can potentially reduce their home charging costs by up to 30% by utilizing the Polestar Energy app. But how does this work? The answer lies in the innovative technology of bidirectional charging, which is increasingly being adopted by various manufacturers.
Volvo has already implemented this technology in its EX90 model. Essentially, it allows an electric vehicle to function as a substantial mobile battery, capable of powering devices or even supplying energy to a home. Additionally, it enables users to feed energy back into the public grid for potential earnings, all through the vehicle’s charging port. This technology is commonly referred to as V2X, V2L, or V2G, depending on the application.
For Polestar, the focus is on V2G (vehicle-to-grid) technology. While the term might sound complex, its functionality is straightforward. This system allows users to send energy from their vehicle’s battery back to the public electrical grid. Drivers can charge their vehicles when energy prices are lower, particularly during off-peak hours, and then feed the stored energy back into the grid when rates rise. The benefits of this model are considerable.
Both electric vehicle owners and energy suppliers can reap the rewards. Energy providers can save on high-cost energy purchases by sourcing power from users’ vehicles. In return, companies like EDF offer compensation to those who participate, allowing electric vehicle owners to enjoy savings on their electricity bills. However, to access these benefits, users may need to switch their energy suppliers.
Polestar has indicated that “the service will be rolled out in multiple markets during the latter half of the year,” although it remains uncertain if France will be among the first. Notably, Polestar is not alone in offering such appealing services; Renault is also leveraging bidirectional charging with its R5 E-Tech, which could potentially cut energy bills by half, based on our analysis.
Moreover, Volkswagen is also in the mix, having partnered with EDF to provide drivers with 1,000 free kilometers through optimized charging management, again utilizing V2G technology. While additional bonuses are available, the overall gains appear to be modest, as our investigations have previously indicated.