Polestar partners with Oxford University to measure driver physiology during EV track tests
Polestar and Oxford researchers used biometric sensors to study how electric vehicle performance impacts the human experience behind the wheel.
Key points
- Twelve drivers wore electrodes and heart monitors while testing Polestar 4 vehicles on a Swedish track.
- All-wheel-drive models produced 32 percent higher peak acceleration than single-motor versions.
- The study combined physiological data with car telemetry and driver interviews to assess performance.
Polestar has launched a pilot study in collaboration with the University of Oxford to quantify the human experience of driving high-performance electric vehicles. The research aims to move beyond standard specification sheets by measuring the physiological effects of acceleration and handling on drivers during track tests.
The study involved twelve participants who drove both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the Polestar 4 at the Gotland Ring circuit in Sweden. Researchers equipped the drivers with heart rate monitors and skullcaps fitted with electrodes to capture real-time physiological data while they navigated the track.
Methodology and Data Collection
Christian Samson, Polestar’s head of product attributes, stated that the partnership allows the company to connect engineering metrics with the actual experience of the person driving. The team combined biometric readings from the drivers with telemetry data collected directly from the vehicles’ onboard systems.
In addition to the physiological and telemetry data, the researchers conducted subjective interviews with the drivers after the sessions. This multi-faceted approach was designed to capture aspects of performance that traditional stopwatch measurements and lap times cannot fully describe.
Performance Findings
The all-wheel-drive Polestar 4 models generated significantly higher G-loads during cornering and acceleration compared to the single-motor versions. This difference is attributed to the AWD models having double the power output, totaling 536 horsepower or 400 kilowatts.
Drivers in the all-wheel-drive vehicles experienced 32 percent higher peak acceleration than those in the single-motor cars. Additionally, the study found that drivers required 15 percent less steering effort to complete a matched fast lap in the more powerful vehicle.
Who is affected
The Polestar 4 is a midsize crossover that serves as an alternative to vehicles like the Porsche Macan. However, the specific model tested in this study is no longer available for purchase in the United States, limiting the immediate market relevance for American consumers.
The findings primarily impact Polestar’s engineering and marketing strategies as the company seeks to redefine performance metrics for electric vehicles. The research highlights a shift in how manufacturers might evaluate and communicate vehicle capabilities to potential buyers.
What should you do?
Security and technology professionals should monitor how automotive companies collect and store biometric data from drivers. The use of electrodes and heart monitors raises questions about data privacy and the security of personal health information gathered by vehicle manufacturers.
Background: Biometric data
Biometric data includes physiological traits like fingerprints and facial geometry, or behavioral patterns like voice cadence. Systems convert these physical inputs into digital templates for identification. Unlike passwords, these traits are permanent. Loss of this data creates lifelong privacy risks that require strict consent and minimal retention practices to mitigate effectively.
Read the full guide: What Is Considered Biometric Data: Definitions, Risks, and Management
What to do and how to stay safe: Polestar
- Review privacy policies of automotive manufacturers to understand how biometric and driver monitoring data is collected and stored.
- Monitor regulatory developments regarding the classification of driver physiological data as sensitive personal information.
- Assess the security controls surrounding vehicle telemetry systems that transmit performance and driver behavior data to cloud servers.
- Evaluate the potential attack surface introduced by connected vehicle systems that integrate with external research or diagnostic platforms.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What specific metrics did Polestar measure in the study?
Polestar measured heart rate, brain activity via electrodes, steering effort, acceleration, and G-loads during cornering.
How many drivers participated in the Polestar study?
Twelve drivers participated in the pilot study at the Gotland Ring circuit in Sweden.
Is the Polestar 4 available in the US?
The Polestar 4 is no longer available for purchase in the United States, according to the source material.
