Charging your electric car
Charging an electric car generally takes less effort than refueling a conventional vehicle. Instead of periodically heading to the petrol station to fill up an almost empty tank, try topping up the battery when the car is parked at home or work, or even at the local shopping centre. The number of public charging stations is growing all the time.
Charging an electric car generally takes less effort than refueling a conventional vehicle. Instead of periodically heading to the petrol station to fill up an almost empty tank, try topping up the battery when the car is parked at home or work, or even at the local shopping centre. The number of public charging stations is growing all the time.
Improving real life range
The range a Polestar 2 can achieve in real life is influenced by a number of factors. Once you understand them, you can plan your driving and charging behaviour to improve your range.
- 01.What is WLTP certified range?
In Europe all electric vehicles are measured against a standardised metric for range. The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) measures the range of a car travelling at an average speed of 30mph in summer temperatures from a 100% to 0% state of charge. The certified WLTP range is not always achievable in real life.
- 02.What is real life range?
Many factors inside and outside of the car can positively or negatively impact its actual range. These factors change across different circumstances, which means that the real world range of each individual electric car will also change. Also, because you rarely drive from 100% to a completely empty battery, the real life range appears to be lower than the WLTP range.
- 03.Maximising real life range
The following measures will all have a positive impact on your real life range: lowering your average speed, removing heavy items from the trunk, pre-cooling or pre-heating the car while it’s charging, making sure your tyres are properly inflated, and using the full capacity of your battery. Charging along the way also helps extend your range. The Google maps service in your Polestar 2 can help you find charging stations along your route.
Polestar 2 charging cables
Both AC and DC charging work with the Polestar 2. It comes with two cables that are suitable for the most commonly-used charging options. To charge using an ordinary domestic socket with the appropriate fusing, use the 7-metre Mode 2 cable*. For a faster charge from a wall box or charging station, use the 4.5-metre Mode 3 cable**.
For faster charging at home, garage or workshop without a wall box, you can buy extra cables to connect to a medium-power “camping” outlet (blue, 3.5kW, single-phase), or a high-power “industrial” outlet (red, 11kW, triple-phase). These cables are available from the Polestar extras webshop if you have ordered a Polestar car. You’ll also need the correct connectors for the outlet.
* Technical information: 7m, Mode 2, Type 2, standard EU connector, 3 pin UK plug, IEC 1P 230V, 10A 2.3kW
** Technical information: 4.5m, Mode 3, Type 2 standard EU connector, IEC 3P 400V 32A 22kW