NCET Biz Tips: Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory is Leading the “Charge” (pun intended) on Sustainable Travel

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It is no secret that driving a gas-powered vehicle contributes drastically to your personal carbon footprint. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that “a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.” Protecting our environment is of increased importance as we get further into the 21st century, and it is obvious that our world urgently needs energy-efficient solutions to transportation in order to reduce the negative impact in which the way we travel leaves on our environment. 

This is where Tesla comes in. 

Tesla is leading the charge on this effort by living through on its mission to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transportation.” Even better – much of the action is happening right here in Northern Nevada. 

Tesla started constructing the Sparks Gigafactory in June 2014 on Electric Avenue, and the revolutionary company has been spurring sustainable change ever since. The word 'Giga' in “Gigafactory” refers to the unit of measurement representing billions. Consequently, at its Sparks Gigafactory, workers heavily contribute to Tesla’s overall goal of producing 500,000 electrically charged vehicles per year. The Gigafactory specifically manufactures drive units for Tesla’s Model S, 3 and Y vehicles as well as their state-of-the-art battery packs and energy storage products, Powerwall and Powerpack. Its more than 5,000 employees contribute to the success of the size and scope of the facility, as they manufacture a huge volume of materials and products day in and day out. 

Despite its 5.3 million square feet of operational space and constant work to meet the intense global supply demand for electric transportation solutions, the Gigafactory still manages to maintain an especially low carbon footprint. This success can be attributed to a variety of initiatives: 

  • Reliance on renewable energy sources

  • Wastewater recycling

  • Massive thermal and cooling infrastructure

    • Their chilling plant runs overnight so workers do not have to run it during energy inefficient times.

  • Shuttle program for employees from Reno/Sparks, Carson City, Fernley and Fallon

  • Commuter subsidy for carpoolers

  • Preferred parking for electric cars and free charging

 According to Tesla, back in 2018, battery production at the Sparks Gigafactory “reached an annualized rate of roughly 20 GWh, making it the highest-volume battery plant in the world. Tesla currently produces more batteries in terms of kWh than all other carmakers combined.” By using innovative manufacturing tactics, reducing waste and having their supply chain all in one place – from vehicles to batteries – the Gigafactory offers a solution to mitigate damage to the environment while lowering the cost of production for their technologies. In turn, Tesla is making products more accessible to people of all walks of life, allowing the company “to make the biggest possible impact on transitioning the world to sustainable energy.”

And this is only the beginning. Construction on the Gigafactory is only about 30 percent done, yet the impact is already immense. At 100 percent completion, the facility will be a net zero energy factory manufacturing the largest load of technologies helping make our drives, and consequently our planet, better and healthier.

Take a virtual tour of the Tesla Gigafactory and learn more about Tesla’s mission-driven sustainability initiatives during NCET’s Tech Wednesday on June 9 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm with virtual networking from 4:00 to 4:30 pm. More information here.

Dave Archer is president/CEO of NCET, which produces educational and networking events to help people explore business and technology. (www.NCET.org) 

Dave Archer