EV automaker Polestar is picking up where it left off with last year’s limited production Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 with a next-generation version of the sedan with a keener focus on performance design. The Polestar 2 BST 230 debuts new features to the brand both inside in out that you learn more about below.
Polestar’s BST journey into performance EVs begins with the 2 sedan, which originally debuted in three years ago as a 2021 model that has continued to grow in popularity since, surpassing 100,000 total units sold in late 2022. Polestar debuted the 2024 model of the 2 this past January and we’ve been able to test drive multiple variations along the way, including the Long Range Single Motor (FWD) version as well as the 2023 Dual Motor.
In the summer of 2022, Polestar announced a new variation of the 2 called the BST Edition 270, which we got to push to its limits around San Francisco this past fall. Shortly after making its public debut, all 270 units of the Polestar 2 had been spoken for, which led me to ask the team at the time what it had in mind next.
Given the early and quick success of the BST 270, the EV automaker has plenty more performance-oriented variations in the works for the growing number of incoming models joining its pipeline – perhaps in its newest model, the Polestar 3 SUV? That has not been confirmed however, but what has been confirmed as of this morning is an updated version of its electric sedan, called the Polestar 2 BST Edition 230. Check it out.
Polestar will only build 230 of its latest 2 BST Edition EV
Later this year, Polestar intends to “drop” its second, limited-edition version of the Polestar 2, but at an even more exclusive production output of just 230 units. The Polestar 2 BST 230 will feature many of the performance upgrades that debuted in the BST 270, but with even more unique details inside and out. Per Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath:
Limited drops like the BST edition 230 allow us to explore colors, graphics and materials in faster and more creative ways. As we’ve seen with the success of the BST edition 270 previously, our ability to create unique, limited editions based on the latest trends provides our customers with a level of rarity and customization normally reserved for supercars. This is something we will continue to offer to our customers.
Polestar appears to be onto something here by offering exclusive, limited-runs of uniquely designed performance EVs, and is merely getting started with the Polestar 2s. Here’s what we can expect in the BST Edition 230:
The latest performance Polestar 2 BST Edition will feature the same chassis modifications present on last year’s limited-edition debut, including a front strut-tower brace that improves stiffness of the front suspension mounts during racetrack style driving while maintaining steering accuracy and feel under the most severe dynamic conditions. It will come equipped with all the bells and whistles of each of Polestar’s current add-ons, including the Plus, Pilot, and Performance Packs, plus upgraded “BST” tuning.
It will also sit an entire inch (25 mm) lower than the base Polestar 2, which is quite a drop from a tuning perspective. Those lucky 230 customers will also be table to experience two-way adjustable Dual Flow Valve (DFV) dampers from Öhlins complete with an external reservoir, front strut bar, 20% stiffer springs, and black 21-inch alloy wheels that support Pirelli P Zero Tires.
The performance results are the same compared to the Polestar BST Edition 270 – 476 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque, and 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. However, it will arrive as the first EV to feature Polestar’s new Green Nebula exterior paint (seen above). The new Polestar 2 will also be the first equipped with new MicroSuede textiles in its caving made from recycled Nubuck. Customers can also choose a “Space” black exterior and optional racing stripe.
The 230 planned units of the Polestar 2 BST Edition will be produced for Europe and North America and will be secured on a first come first serve basis via the automaker’s website. You will be able to configure your very own limited edition Polestar 2 at some point today for a starting MSRP of $79,500 (excluding $1,400 destination fees). Deliveries are expected to begin in Q3 of this year.
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Elon Musk went on an all-day Tesla self-driving propaganda spree ahead of the company’s earnings, which are expected to be rough.
It’s well known these days that Musk doesn’t often comment on Tesla as he is busy with his government work, buying elections, and running several private companies.
Some Tesla shareholders argue that the CEO is neglecting the public company, which saw its stock tumble this year.
That wasn’t the case today.
Musk went on a tweeting spree about Tesla, specifically about Tesla’s self-driving effort.
Here are some of the highlights:
Tesla posted that “one day” its vehicles will drive themselves from the factory to new customers and Musk couldn’t stop himself and had to say that it will happen “this year”:
Like most of Musk’s self-driving comments, this one is hard to take seriously since he said the exact same thing in 2018 and claimed it would happen in 2019.
The tweet he was responding to has been deleted by the author, but it asked when Tesla vehicles would drive themselves to customers:
Spoiler alert: regulators are not the bottleneck here.
Musk then claimed that “Tesla self-driving will be far safer than human driving”:
The problem here is that Musk has claimed on many occasions that Tesla’s FSD is already safer than humans, like in 2023: “Supervised FSD is vastly safer than human driving.”
There’s no data that supports that. Tesla refuses to share any data regarding its self-driving program and instead, the company shares a very misleading quarterly “safety report.”
Considering Tesla’s FSD requires supervision from a driver at all times, the driver’s supervision and attention help reduce accidents that the self-driving system wouldn’t necessarily prevent.
Musk also shared positive experiences of a few Tesla owners, including a Tesla engineer and Joe Rogan:
As we often highlight, Tesla’s FSD can be impressive to use, but the problem is when you compare it to its promise, which is in the name: full self-driving.
Under its current form, FSD is still a level 2 advanced driver assist system, and not self-driving, but Musk said that it would become truly “unsupervised” self-driving every year for the last 8 years.
Therefore, it’s not what Musk has been promising buyers for years and as for when it is coming, he has been consistently wrong and has asked owners to rely on anecdotal experiences as Tesla refuses to release any data.
We previously reported that Musk has twice positively referred to a crowdsourced Tesla FSD dataset that shows Tesla’s FSD v13 on HW4 is achieving fewer than 500 miles between critical disengagements.
Tesla has previously stated that FSD must achieve 700,000 miles between critical disengagements to be safer than humans.
The spree of Tesla FSD tweets comes as Tesla is preparing to report its Q1 2025 earnings next week, which should be difficult after the automaker reported its lowest delivery results in three years.
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Texas is No. 1 in the US for wind and solar capacity, but the Texas Senate just passed a bill that aims to kneecap clean energy with an industry-killing review process. Will the Texas House pass it, too?
The Texas Senate today passed SB 819, which creates new restrictions on the development of wind and solar energy under the guise of “protecting” wildlife. The restrictions don’t apply to any other forms of energy.
Texas uses an extraordinary amount of power, and renewables play a big part in supplying that power. The Texas Tribune reported in March that “ERCOT [the Texas grid] predicts that Texas’ energy demand will nearly double by 2030, with power supply projected to fall short of peak demand in a worst-case scenario beginning in summer 2026.” That’s because of extreme weather, population growth, and crypto-mining facilities.
As of February, Texas increased its energy supply by 35% over the last four years, and 92% of that supply came from solar, wind, and battery storage.
Solar is the largest source of energy generating capacity that has been added to the Texas grid. That’s because it’s cost-effective and it can be deployed quickly. So if new solar projects are kneecapped, power demand will outstrip supply in the Lone Star State.
Daniel Giese, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)’s Texas director of state affairs, stated after the Senate’s vote, “With energy demand rising fast, Texas needs every megawatt it can generate to keep the lights on and our economy strong. We cannot afford to turn away from the pro-energy and pro-business policies that made the Lone Star State the energy capital, but that’s exactly what SB 819 does. We urge the Texas House to reject this bill.”
Less clean energy would also jack up electricity bills for Texans, and rural areas would lose billions in landowner revenue and tax payments. Every time a wind farm or solar farm is installed on rural land, it brings a lot of money to the community that surrounds it. A January report estimated that existing and planned solar, wind, and battery storage projects will contribute $20 billion in local tax revenue and $29.5 billion in landowner payments.
What’s especially baffling about this bill is that it flies in the face of a core Texas value – keeping the government out of private property decisions – yet it does precisely the opposite.
Environment Texas executive director Luke Metzger issued the following response: ‘By making it much more difficult to build wind and solar energy in Texas, this bill threatens to increase pollution, increase blackouts and increase our electric bills.
“Under the guise of helping land and wildlife, SB 819 would create a discriminatory and capricious permitting standard that could grind renewable energy development to a halt.
“We urge the House of Representatives to reject this bill and instead support policies that promote a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for all Texans.”
It will come as no surprise to regular readers that I find this bill ludicrously masochistic. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and please keep it civil.
Read more: A vast 600 MW Texas solar farm just hit a major milestone [update]
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