In order to build a massive EV factory in Germany, Tesla chopped down 500,000 trees from 800+ acres of forest (329 hectares). The deaths of these trees are estimated by Kayrros (a private environmental tracking organization) experts to have released approximately 13,000 tonnes of CO2, which is equivalent to the average annual emissions of 2,800 internal combustion cars. In addition, dozens of incidents of environmentally damaging spills of diesel, paints, and aluminum have been reported at the site. The deforestation will also put pressure on the relatively dry (for Germany) region's water supply.
Nevertheless, the Brandenburg state have approved plans for a doubling of production capacity at the site. Tesla, while acknowledging the deforestation and multiple spills/leaks, also claims that no environmental damage has taken place, and besides, if it did, they did something about it anyway so just shut up, OK??!? Elon Musk shouts from Xitter that all the people protesting the environmental impacts of the site are either very dumb or puppets for bad guys who want to destroy the environment.
This has been your Musk hypocrisy update for the week. #Climate #ClimateChange #deforestation #WaterWars #Musk #Tesla #EVs
https://qz.com/tesla-berlin-germany-trees-gigafactory-1851630254