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The Polestar 3 has long been promised to be the first true branded BEV from the Volvo- and Geely-owned automaker, and it has a lot riding on its success. After taking a trip out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to test drive both variants of the Polestar 3, I think this SUV is something pretty special inside and out.

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A quick background on the Polestar 3 SUV

The Polestar 3 is a new SUV from the EV brand that is majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding. It was initially announced in October 2022. In addition to being the first SUV from Polestar ($PSNY), it will also be the first model built on US soil in South Carolina.

The SUV was initially scheduled to launch in Q4 2023, but Polestar delayed its arrival to Q1 2024, citing the need for more time to develop the software used in its platform shared with Volvo Cars and the EX90.

In February, however, Volvo announced it would sell most of its stake in Polestar. Regardless, the brand has pushed ahead in China with Geely as initial production began overseas that same month.

The first deliveries of the all-electric SUV began in late June before the US builds commenced last month. My trip was a rare instance of test-driving an EV for the first time that’s already on the market, but I have been giddy about the opportunity to do so nonetheless and share my thoughts with you, so let’s dig in.

Specs of the first two Polestar 3 variants

At its initial US launch, the Polestar 3 SUV arrived in two dual-motor variants, including a Long Range version we referred to as the “basic” model during the drives and a Long Range 3 with Polestar’s Performance Pack, offering more horsepower and acceleration (plus sweet gold seatbelts you can peep below).

Polestar has since shared plans for a third, more affordable SUV variant, complete with a single RWD powertrain. However, that’s not coming to North America until later this year, so we will focus on the two versions I drove. Here’s how the specs stack up:

Polestar 3 Variant Long Range Dual Motor Long Range Dual Motor
+Performance Pack
Powertrain Dual Motor Dual Motor
Power 489 hp 517 hp
Torque 620 lb-ft 671 lb-ft
Acceleration
(0-60 mph)
4.8 seconds 4.5 seconds
Top Speed 130 mph 130 mph
Battery Size (NMC) 111 kWh (nominal) /
107 kWh (usable)
111 kWh (nominal) /
107 kWh (usable)
Energy Consumption (EPA) 38.9 kWh/ 100 miles 43.2 kWh/ 100 miles
Range (EPA) Up to 315 miles Up to 279 miles
Drag Coefficient 0.29 Cd 0.29 Cd
AC Charging Up to 11 kW
(0-100% in 11 hours)
Up to 11 kW
(0-100% in 11 hours)
DC Charging Up to 250 kW
(10-80% in 30 mins)
Up to 250 kW
(10-80% in 30 mins)
Source: Polestar

On paper, the Polestar 3’s specs are more than adequate but by no means blow you away. However, if you’ve ever driven the Polestar 2 BST or the RWD version, you can understand that these EVs are simply built differently and drive better than most vehicles out there today.

That’s partly due to Polestar’s mechanical engineer Christian Samson and his team at the design center in Gothenburg, who have once again put their tuning expertise into Polestar’s latest model. The result is noticeable but also quite unmatched. Here are my thoughts.

This SUV is amazing, even without the Performance Pack

During my day of driving up and around Wyoming and through Idaho, I took in some beautiful vistas around the Tetons despite the rain (and a little bit of snow). During that trek, I got time behind the wheel of both Launch Editions of the Polestar 3 SUV, including the Dual Motor version, which includes Polestar’s Plus and Pilot Packs (in the “Snow” exterior seen above), as well as the Performance Pack Version in “Thunder” down below.

My first impression, and something I’ll probably revisit several times as you read on, is how smooth of a ride this SUV delivers. As the Polestar team shared with us during a presentation before, the drive, handling, steering, and performance are at the core of its product identity, alongside other important factors such as range, efficiency, sustainability, U/X, and ADAS.

The design team put a lot of effort into the abundant and refined body control in the Polestar 3 SUV to deliver a playful but balanced ride it hopes will propel the young(ish) brand to status as the first choice for proper drivers due to its precision and distinct road contact.

After driving both these variants, I have to say Polestar knocked it out of the park. I don’t know if I’ve experienced a ride as smooth and as comfortable as the 3, whether I was behind the wheel or riding shotgun with my driving partner.

If you’ve read about my drive experiences in the past, you’ll know I’m a stickler for regen and love one-pedal driving, and the Polestar 3 is some of the best I’ve encountered to date. It’s perfectly calibrated and stiff as hell when you want it to be, yet its deceleration is so utterly smooth that you are never jerked forward. This is what one-pedal driving should be—Chef’s kiss.

I was a massive fan of the small driver’s display above the steering wheel. It remained in clear sight and perfectly displayed all the pertinent information right where I needed it and is a perfect example of Polestar’s nod to its Scandinavian roots with a minimalist yet functional design approach.

On the way back in the Polestar 3 with the Performance Pack, we encountered one software error in which the driver display malfunctioned (see error message below). The vehicle kept working perfectly, including Pilot Assist ADAS, although there were no indications it was on. Other metrics like speed went dark as well. The HUD still projected but didn’t show any information.

Once I pulled over and turned the SUV off (which required a quick Google search since this model doesn’t have a start/stop button), I could restart it, and everything booted up just fine. It was a minor bug with a quick solution, but it is worth mentioning.

I also found the HUD to be completely adequate during my drive time. It was nothing special as it only displays the speed limit and your current speed, but it was easy to see, even through all the elements outside.

Another feature I enjoyed was the 25-speaker system with Dolby Atmos from Bowers & Wilkins, which comes with the Plus Pack upgrade. The sound quality was incredible, and you can switch between different simulated environments, including “Stage” and “Room.” Dark Side of the Moon never sounded better.

While the Polestar 3’s acceleration specs may not blow you away on paper, don’t get it twisted; this SUV is sneaky fast. Again, I have to give credit to how well the EVs have been tuned because you can not only easily overtake a car whenever you want, but you also feel in complete control the entire time and always have an excellent feel for where the front wheels are.

I don’t want to incriminate myself here, but on the empty country roads in Wyoming, my driving partner and I were able to get the Polestar 3’s speed well into the triple digits, sometimes without even noticing. I experienced this sensation as both a passenger and a driver – you can easily be going 118 mph, and it feels as smooth and calm as if you were going 55 mph. It’s unreal.

The overall aesthetic of the Polestar 3 SUV is one of cleanliness and quality. The textiles, many of which are recycled materials, are comfortable and bring an feeling of premium quality to the vehicle. I preferred the interior of then Performance Pack version personally, but when it’s all said and done, I think the regular olf Dual Motor version is where it’s at

Final thoughts, pricing, and availability of the Polestar 3

Overall, I was quite impressed with the Polestar 3 and highly recommend taking the SUV for a test drive yourself to truly understand what I’m talking about when I describe how well it has been tuned. While I thoroughly enjoyed both variants, I personally would opt for the Launch Edition Dual Motor version with the Plus and Pilot Packs.

The Performance Pack does offer some extra oomph, but I don’t think it’s significant enough to herald the higher price tag unless you just have to have those gold seatbelts (understandable).

The Launch Edition Polestar 3 starts at an MSRP of $73,400 and costs $79,400 with the Performance Pack. Both options are on sale now, and if you buy one, you should get one of the early Polestar SUVs built here in the US.

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Costco Executive members get MASSIVE $31,500 off Chevy Brightdrop van

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Costco Executive members get MASSIVE ,500 off Chevy Brightdrop van

With 272 miles of range and more room inside its walls than your first apartment, GM’s Chevy Brightdrop electric van is one of the best commercial EVs you can buy. And if you’re a Costco Executive member, you can get one for yourself or your business with an absolutely incredible $31,500 discount. (!)

Fleet electrification expert Tony Nisam took to LinkedIn yesterday to post a deal that he ran across at a Washington State Costco that stacks a $25,500 manufacturer rebate with $3,000 in “regular” Costco Member Savings, $2,750 in “LIMITED-TIME” Manufacturer to Member Incentives, plus an additional $250 for Costco Executive members.

Do a bit of math (add up 25,500 + 3,000 + $2,750 + 250), and you’ll calculate an almost unheard of $31,500 discount on one of the best, most capable commercial vans on the market – ICE or electric. And that’s before you factor in the 0% interest financing (72 mo.) being advertised at Blade Chevrolet, the Mount Vernon, Washington, where VIN 2G58J2TY6S9104313 (the exact van shown, below) is shown as stock number 16757.

If you’re not a Costco member yet and you’re looking for a new truck for your business or even a unique #vanlife ride with zero emissions, modern tech, and a nationwide dealer network, GM makes that $130 Executive membership seem like a no-brainer.

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Kind of a big deal

“But wait,” says the floating, disembodied ghost of the great Billy Mays. “There’s more!” In addition to the $31,500 worth of discounts Costco Executive members get, there are deals to be had on chargers AND a number of other state and local utility incentives your business might qualify for, bringing the cost of adding a new Chevy Brightdrop to your fleet even lower. In northern Illinois, for example, ComEd commercial customers can get up to $7,500 in rebates for a new Brightdrop Zevo van.

Is a $39,000 price cut enough to get you to take a look at a new Brightdrop? At $45,235 (from a starting price of $84,235), can you afford not to? Head down to the comments and let us know.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Tony Nisam.

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Tesla quietly removes range extender battery option on Cybertruck

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Tesla quietly removes range extender battery option on Cybertruck

Tesla has quietly removed the Cybertruck’s range extender from the options in its online configurator.

Does Tesla still plan to bring the product to market?

When Tesla unveiled the production version of the Cybertruck in late 2023, there were two main disappointments: the price and the range.

The tri-motor version, which was the most popular in reservation tallies, was supposed to have over 500 miles of range and start at $70,000.

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Tesla now sells the tri-motor Cybertruck for $100,000 and only has a range of 320 miles.

As for the dual-motor Cybertruck, it was supposed to cost $50,000 and have over 300 miles of range. The reality is that it starts at $80,000, and it has 325 miles of range.

However, Tesla had devised a solution to bring the range closer to what it originally announced: a separate battery pack that sits in the truck’s bed. Tesla called it a “range extender.” It costs $16,000 and takes up a third of the Cybertruck’s bed.

Even though the Cybertruck has been in production for a year and a half at this point, the range extender has yet to launch.

Initially, Tesla said that it would come “early 2025”, but we reported that it was pushed to “mid-2025” late last year.

At the time, Tesla also reduced the range that the removable battery pack adds to the Cybertruck to “445+ miles” rather than “470+ miles” for the dual motor – a ~25-mile reduction in range.

Now, Tesla has removed the option from its online Cybertruck configurator. It used to take reservations for the range extender with a “$2,000 non-refundable deposit”, as seen on the image above, but now it’s not in the configurator at all at the time of writing.

It’s unclear if Tesla is not planning to launch the product anymore or if it is just pausing reservations.

In its specs page, Tesla still lists the achievable range of both versions of the Cybertruck with and without the range extender battery:

Electrek’s Take

I’m curious. Is it dead, or does Tesla just want to stop taking reservations for it?

At first, I was curious about the product even though I didn’t think it would make up for Tesla’s significant miss on Cybertruck specs.

However, after it was confirmed that it takes up 30% of your bed and that it needs to be installed and removed by Tesla at a service center, I think it’s pretty much dead on arrival at $16,000.

It’s going to be a product limited to only a few people at best. And now that’s if it makes it to market.

With the option being removed from the configurator, there’s no production timeline available. Again, the last one was “mid-2025”, which is soon.

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EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member’s Festival

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EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member's Festival

Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.

EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:

Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.

To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.

EcoFlow Member
Source: EcoFlow

EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”

Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.

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This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:

In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.

In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.

To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.

Source: EcoFlow

Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival

As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.

As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.

Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!

Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.

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