Are Tesla Electric Cars Environmental Green
Production, Hazardous Waste and Mechanical Design of a Tesla Electric Car
Mini Hazardous Waste Report Proposal
Sean Edward Paquette
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Hartford, Connecticut
Solid Hazardous Waste Prevention and Air Control Engineering (MANE-6960)
Spring 2014
Abstract: Energy costs are increasing, fossil fuel supplies are diminishing and environmental concerns in the
world are rising to all-time highs. Oil and gas will continue to be integral components to the global energy
needs for economic development. Over the coming years, the world’s population will grow exponentially
creating the need for more accessibility to energy to help produce food, power communication channels and
most importantly transportation. Major multinational automobile manufacturers need to continue developing
alternative fuel vehicles and inspiring innovative ideas to conquer the energy challenges of today and the future.
In this report proposal, the production, hazardous waste and mechanical design of electric vehicles in the
United States will be examined. Tesla electric cars will be used as the sample for this study.
Keywords: Electric vehicles, United States, Tesla, Hazardous Waste
Energy costs are increasing, fossil fuel supplies are thinning and environmental concerns in the
world are rising to all-time highs. Between the years 2010 and 2040 transportation related energy
demands will increase by more than 40 percent, primarily driven by commercial transportation, based
on a study completed by ExxonMobil. Today, conventional gasoline and diesel fuel powered vehicles
need to shift to a more energy-efficient alternative fuel source. This report will assess and analyze the
hazardous waste produced by a Tesla Electric Car manufactured in the United States.
Tesla Motors in a publically traded American automobile manufacturing company founded in
2003. Tesla Motors’ first luxury pure electric vehicle was the Tesla Roadster. Electric vehicles are
purely powered by electrical power. Electric vehicles are “propelled by an electric motor (or motors)
powered by rechargeable battery packs.”1 Tesla vehicles have many modern customer appealing
advantages, for example, Tesla electric vehicles are extremely energy efficient and have fantastic
performance benefits. Although, a major area of concern since the launch of electric powered vehicle
has been the potential concerns of hazardous waste surrounding the rechargeable battery packs.
Tesla rechargeable battery packs are manufactured in Japan under strict environmental laws
and are “mostly made from lithium metal oxides with zero lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent
chromium, PBBs or PBDEs. Tesla says that, by law its battery cells could be landfilled, though that is
not what they actually do.”2 As this paper developed from a proposal into a research paper I would
expect based on recent studies and research Tesla rechargeable battery packs are relatively
environmentally friendly, although, there are still areas of development with concern to hazardous
waste generation. For example, I would begin researching the hazardous waste law in regards to
landfill disposal. This would be the reports first discussion subject due to the research and information
found from the first research paper this semester in terms of the definition of toxic solid waste and how
countries get around global punishment based on terminology.
1
2
(U.S. Department of Energy)
(Richard, 2008)
1
Bibliography
Richard, M. (2008, March). Here's What Happens to a Tesla Electric Car Battery at the End of its Life. Retrieved
April 19, 2014, from Tree Hugger: http://www.treehugger.com/cars/heres-what-happens-to-a-teslaelectric-car-battery-at-the-end-of-its-life.html
U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Energy Efficinecy and Renewable Energy. Retrieved April 20, 2014, from AllElectric Vehicles (EVs) : https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml
2