Polestar and Oxford University study driver experience

Polestar has collaborated with researchers from the University of Oxford’s SDG Impact Lab to conduct a pilot study measuring how electric vehicle performance is perceived by drivers. Moving beyond traditional metrics like horsepower and lap times, the study utilized vehicle telemetry, heart-rate monitoring, eye tracking, and psychological assessments to analyze the relationship between vehicle movement and human physiological responses.

The research, conducted with 12 drivers at the Gotland Ring circuit in Sweden, compared the Polestar 4 Rear motor version with the Dual motor Performance pack version. Findings indicated that during dynamic driving, participants exhibited signs of deep engagement, such as increased pupil dilation and reduced blink rates.

On matched fast laps, the 544-horsepower Performance version demonstrated 32% higher peak acceleration and required 15% less steering effort than the Rear motor variant. Drivers rated the Performance version significantly higher, scoring 89.2 out of 100 on a performance and dynamics scale compared to 67.7 for the Rear motor. Participants described the sensation of high performance combined with vehicle trust and control as a ‘controlled roller coaster’.