Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive Inc RIVN announced that its customers will soon be getting vehicles that had their initial charge supplied by entirely renewable energy sources.
What Happened: The company has installed a fully commissioned 2.8-megawatt wind turbine at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, to generate wind energy.
The new installation is in addition to the 783-kilowatt solar canopy installed by the company in early 2022, but as the company rightly noted in its statement, “The sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow.”
The turbine and the canopy will together supply renewable energy for the company’s outbound charging yard and ensure that the first charge of the vehicles rolling off the production line will be powered by renewable energy.
Located at the plant’s test track, the turbine is capable of producing 10 million kWh annually, Rivian said. This is enough energy to charge 150,000 vehicles every year.
"This turbine represents the promise we've made to our customers — that we're not only making the best vehicles in the world, but we're helping to move the automotive industry toward a sustainable course," VP of Manufacturing Operations Tim Fallon said.
Why It Matters: The turbine could avoid 177,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over 25 years, Rivian had previously said. This is equivalent to taking roughly 34,000 internal combustion engine vehicles off the road for one year, it added.
Rivian aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement by 2040.
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Rivian. Image VIa Shutterstock
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