The electric vehicle (EV) sector has seen a significant boost in the market, as it promises clean transportation. But exactly how beneficial to the environment are they truly? It all depends on the source of the power used to charge them and the sustainability of their production processes. One automaker’s mega-turbine will ensure its sustainability, as it will generate a never-before-seen power entirely on its own. This move is a crucial win, not only for transportation but for the world in its entirety.

The global energy transition and the transportation industry

The world is slowly working on decreasing the global carbon footprint by transitioning to renewable energies and decarbonizing carbon-heavy industries, such as industry and transportation. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, transportation had a carbon dioxide equivalent emission level of approximately 2.04 billion metric tons in 2023.

This is why many people favor electric vehicles (EVs) over internal combustion engine vehicles. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, EVs have the following environmental benefits:

• Lower emissions
  • Generate zero tailpipe emissions, resulting in improved air quality
  • Lower carbon footprint
• Energy efficiency
  • Converts a high energy percentage into motion
  • Decreased energy loss in the form of heat

The key thing to remember is that EVs still have a carbon footprint. According to Statkraft, some factors influence the “eco-friendliness level” of EVs. The primary factor that plays a role is:

• The resource that is used to produce the electricity to charge EVs

That is why a certain American automaker has invested in renewable sources, with its mega-turbine breaking barriers and minds with its results.

A mega-turbine that produces never-before-seen power

If you love adventure and all things eco-friendly, chances are, you’ve heard of Rivian. This automaker is known for its innovative long-range electric vehicle (EV) trucks, SUVs, and vans built for adventure. According to the company website, it has set a climate goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2040 and aims to achieve its goal by decreasing the total carbon footprint of its operations and vehicles.

Delivering so much more than just power

Rivian first invested in solar energy and installed a 783 kW solar canopy at its plant’s outbound charging yard earlier this year, and its operations started in late summer. The mega-turbine will be a welcome addition, as its design will have a capacity of at least 2.8 MW. According to the company’s website, it will produce approximately 10,000,000 kWh of power annually, which can power 890 average U.S. households.

What’s more, the mega-turbine will help prevent 177,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over its 25-year lifetime. That is the same as removing nearly 34,000 ICE vehicles from the road for one year. The turbine, which can be seen from the plant’s test track, will be able to charge 150,000 EVs annually, and enable more than 20 million miles of renewable driving.

Rivian’s mega-turbine project, in combination with its solar project, will not only help the automaker achieve its climate goal but also contribute to the greater global mission of transitioning to renewable energies, thus not just lowering its own carbon footprint but also the global carbon footprint. Its renewable projects could revolutionize the EV industry, and hopefully inspire other automakers to follow suit soon. BYD’s historic secret mega-project will surely benefit from a mega-turbine project.

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