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Has anyone ever calculated the total environmental impact of a Tesla? It seems that Power Stations + Millions of Tons of mining for rare earth minerals must ma

by _red 8y ago

Has anyone ever calculated the total environmental impact of a Tesla? It seems that Power Stations + Millions of Tons of mining for rare earth minerals must make this a mega-polluter?

SEJeff 8y ago
Admittedly a biased source, but their reasoning seems sensible: https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-greener-think-getting-greener-look-manufacturing/ https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-greener-think-getting-greene... As the cost of solar + wind + static storage drop, the more renewable energy sources are used to power factories. The more renewable source used to power factories, the greater the impact on the vehicle. In this, Tesla leads the way.
- _red 8y ago
  It is helpful that the author quantified some of the issues, however there are many factors involved: * Does the authors CO2 estimates for battery production actually include "mining" or just "assembly"? From reading it, it seems to just include assembly of final components into a battery. * Moving tons of rare-earth minerals from Point A to Point B for battery production requires yet more CO2 output. * Wind + Solar still requires massive batteries somewhere, which still requires massive mining operations. Further, with $40 shale oil now a reality, its getting harder to make the economic case.
  - brohee 8y ago
    Which rare earth are you talking about, and in which quantity?
    - _red 8y ago
      Those who really care about the environment, know that reuse and recycling are the best approaches. So, you could buy a 15-yr old Toyota or Hyundai, since that carbon footprint already exist. You shouldn't be needlessly creating more deadly CO2. Further, in terms of energy density: solar, wind, coal, natural gas all pack far less joules per gram than petroleum. These are inconvenient truths that unfortunately conflict with the slick marketing messages of your luxury golf cart salesman.
brohee 8y ago
Where does this rare earth trope comes from? Tesla batteries uses lithium, nickel and cobalt which aren't rare earth, and Tesla Motors don't use rare earth magnets either...

by _red 8y ago

Has anyone ever calculated the total environmental impact of a Tesla? It seems that Power Stations + Millions of Tons of mining for rare earth minerals must make this a mega-polluter?

SEJeff 8y ago

Admittedly a biased source, but their reasoning seems sensible: https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-greener-think-getting-greener-look-manufacturing/ https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-greener-think-getting-greene... As the cost of solar + wind + static storage drop, the more renewable energy sources are used to power factories. The more renewable source used to power factories, the greater the impact on the vehicle. In this, Tesla leads the way.

_red 8y ago
It is helpful that the author quantified some of the issues, however there are many factors involved: * Does the authors CO2 estimates for battery production actually include "mining" or just "assembly"? From reading it, it seems to just include assembly of final components into a battery. * Moving tons of rare-earth minerals from Point A to Point B for battery production requires yet more CO2 output. * Wind + Solar still requires massive batteries somewhere, which still requires massive mining operations. Further, with $40 shale oil now a reality, its getting harder to make the economic case.
- brohee 8y ago
  Which rare earth are you talking about, and in which quantity?
  - _red 8y ago
    Those who really care about the environment, know that reuse and recycling are the best approaches. So, you could buy a 15-yr old Toyota or Hyundai, since that carbon footprint already exist. You shouldn't be needlessly creating more deadly CO2. Further, in terms of energy density: solar, wind, coal, natural gas all pack far less joules per gram than petroleum. These are inconvenient truths that unfortunately conflict with the slick marketing messages of your luxury golf cart salesman.

brohee 8y ago

Where does this rare earth trope comes from? Tesla batteries uses lithium, nickel and cobalt which aren't rare earth, and Tesla Motors don't use rare earth magnets either...