Polestar 3 gains 800V architecture and 350kW charging

Polestar has upgraded the Polestar 3 to an 800-volt electrical architecture, raising peak DC charging to 350kW and enabling a 10–80% charge in as little as 22 minutes. The upgrade involves extensive component changes including new batteries, motors, inverters and cable harnesses.

The architecture shift reduces energy losses at higher voltage, lowering thermal stress on components and reducing cabling requirements. Alongside the hardware upgrade, Polestar has integrated Breathe Charge, an adaptive battery software developed by Breathe Battery Technologies and deployed on the Volvo Cars SPA2 platform. The software continuously monitors battery condition in real time, adjusting charging speed moment by moment to maximise performance while protecting long-term battery health.

Polestar says a 10-minute charging session with Breathe Charge active can deliver up to 38% more added range compared with the same session without the software. The company also highlights cold-weather performance, with testing data indicating that Breathe Charge enables drivers to add comparable range during low-temperature charging sessions to those achieved without the software in optimal conditions.

In a statement, Michael Lohscheller, Chief Executive, Polestar, said: “The extensive upgrade to an 800 Volt electrical architecture, coupled with cutting-edge battery software, delivers true added value and usability to Polestar 3 drivers thanks to faster charging that is among the best in its segment.”

Source: Polestar