Tesla has filed an updated application for environmental approval with the government regarding its Berlin Gigafactory project, and shows several important changes to its plan.
As we reported earlier this week, we report that Tesla wants to move forward with construction at Gigafactory Berlin without final project approval.
Now they have submitted a new version of their plan for environmental approval with the local government.
According to local media reports, these are the main changes to the new plan for Tesla Gigafactory Berlin:
- Tesla wants to cut 30% more trees: 193.27 acres instead of the current 154.54 acres of forest around the 300-acre site
- Battery production plans have been removed from the app.
- Production of the drive unit has been moved to a new building.
- Tesla has reduced the maximum planned need for water by 33%
- The wastewater treatment and disposal system has been moved to the main building.
- Removed mention of 500,000 vehicles per year, now only refers to “100,000 or more”
The new deforested surface will reportedly build a new test track at the site.
Under the plan, Tesla is expected to continue construction work until March 2021 to begin production of the Model Y at the plant in July 2021.
However, final approval will still take months from the local government taking public comments on the project until September.
But Tesla is already moving forward with construction.
New drone videos show that Tesla has erected the first pillars for the first building yesterday:
The taking of Electrek
While those changes seem important, I think it’s only for the first phase of construction.
Tesla is likely streamlining the first phase for easier approval, though construction is already underway.
As you can see, the first phase is just a small part of the overall site plan:
I believe that in a few years, Tesla Gigafactory Berlin will produce several hundred thousand vehicles per year, and will have battery cell production on site.
What you think? Let us know in the comment section below.
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