Gothenburg: Rewriting the Future of Mobility
By Roland Dupuy — May 2024
Arguably Gothenburg’s most high-profile sustainability-oriented company, Polestar is hoping to fundamentally change the car industry for the better. “Our vision is clear — we want to accelerate the EV-transition while bringing in more sustainable and innovative solutions to make electric cars even better. We need to acknowledge that our industry still has a huge potential for improvement when it comes to disclosing concrete plans for achieving its climate pledges,” Fredrika Klarén, Polestar’s Head of Sustainability, said in a press statement, adding that “this year we are sharing the work we do to make our climate roadmap more concrete, as we navigate towards our 2040 climate goal [of reaching net zero emissions].”
The automotive brand is utilizing new technology to optimize its material sourcing and production processes, for example by employing blockchain monitoring technology to ensure it has a full and accurate overview of the provenance of the nickel, lithium, cobalt and mica used to make its batteries.
Gothenburg has serious automotive heritage, being home to world-renowned manufacturer (and safety pioneer) Volvo — which also happens to be Polestar’s parent compan — and it’s clear that the city is keen to keep its industry competitive on the world stage. But cars aren’t the only component to the transportation revolution — as it turns out, green aviation is important to the city as well.
For Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of electric aviation startup Heart Aerospace, Gothenburg is the perfect place to develop a new, eco-friendly aviation industry, which the world very much needs. In a press statement, he stated that “we have a plan and it’s not just to build a new electric airplane, but a whole new industry. Sweden is the origin of flight shame, an anti-flying movement, but with Northern Runway, we will make electric air travel a reality and preserve flying for future generations.”
The ambitious startup is developing the ES-19 and ES-30 battery electric-powered regional propeller aircraft, and is aiming to start test flights at Gothenburg’s Säve airport from 2026. “Gothenburg has distinguished itself as a driving force within electrification, with world class research facilities like the Swedish electric transport laboratory, SEEL, Chalmers University of Technology and a large cluster of companies focused on battery and electric vehicle development,” Sofia Graflund, Heart Aerospace’s COO adds. “The ambition that Castellum and the City of Gothenburg have for Gateway Säve is truly unique and that is why we have decided to establish our new industry here.”
Both Polestar and Heart Aviation see clear green potential in Sweden’s second city — their recent success is proof, too, that the green economy is only growing in size and influence, and will quickly become impossible to ignore. The companies’ commitment to green innovation is incredibly impressive, but so is Gothenburg’s. Cities around the world are taking note and ramping up their efforts to clean up their streets and transport networks, from Paris’ new RER E extension upcoming Grand Paris Express, and massize tree-planting project, to Dhaka’s new metro, and beyond. We may not be at the flying car or hyperloop stage just yet, but transportation is most definitely moving in a green direction.
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⚡️ Shocking the System: Classic Cars Enter the Electric Age
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💚 Safeguarding the Future of the Riverbed Jade
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🏙 Gothenburg: Rewriting the Future of Mobility
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🍷 Urban Wineries Show Us How Production Can Evolve
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🖼 ArtBasel 2024 — The Eco-Artists to Watch
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♻️ Central Saint Martins’ Next-gen Fashion Saviors
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☀️ Green Light’s Guide to Berlin, Capital of Cool
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🇮🇸 The Perfect Low-impact Day Out in Reykjavík
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By Roland Dupuy & friends
Est. 2023, London
Book 1 - Hope in Motion - Available soon