Could the new Tesla Austin Gigafactory be served by rail?
July 29th, 2020
July 29, 2020 - TRA Newswire -
Construction at Elon Musk's Tesla Gigafactory, just outside of Austin, is progressing along with some of the land being cleared for the 2,000 acre site.
Even their massive German Tesla property pales in comparison when compared to the Austin site. During the second quarter earnings call, Musk described the Texas Gigafactory as being about five minutes from Austin International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown. The expanse of land, bordering Harold Green Road and Texas State Highway 130, will hold an electric vehicle manufacturing plant and what Elon Musk describes as an “ecological paradise”. The property will contain a boardwalk, trees, streams, and a hiking and biking trail and will be the first Tesla plant open to the public.
But how will Tesla get parts and components delivered to the site and the completed electric vehicles shipped? Austin traffic conditions are already pushed to the limits during many day-parts.
Some industry sources are indicated that rail is being looked into as a greener-source of transportation. One observer pointed out that "crossing land to the northwest (towards US-183) the Gigafactory could be connected to the existing railway by adding less than five miles of rail. The road is practically free of buildings. Otherwise a railway track could follow State Highway 130 north for a distance of 8 miles to reach the existing railroad." The site could potentially be served by either short-line railroad operator Austin Western Railroad or Union Pacific Railroad.
Self-driving semi's could also come into play to haul finished vehicles. However, it is estimated that with current trucking options, which costs about $18 a ton mile, it would be more expensive than a rail option which would be in the $4 per ton mile range. Automated semi's could reduce the cost by some 20%, according to observers. Semi's may still be more competitive on short-haul routes than a rail option, but you must also take into consideration adding more road traffic to Austin highways, already operating at peak-time capacity plus.
Construction at Elon Musk's Tesla Gigafactory, just outside of Austin, is progressing along with some of the land being cleared for the 2,000 acre site.
Even their massive German Tesla property pales in comparison when compared to the Austin site. During the second quarter earnings call, Musk described the Texas Gigafactory as being about five minutes from Austin International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown. The expanse of land, bordering Harold Green Road and Texas State Highway 130, will hold an electric vehicle manufacturing plant and what Elon Musk describes as an “ecological paradise”. The property will contain a boardwalk, trees, streams, and a hiking and biking trail and will be the first Tesla plant open to the public.
But how will Tesla get parts and components delivered to the site and the completed electric vehicles shipped? Austin traffic conditions are already pushed to the limits during many day-parts.
Some industry sources are indicated that rail is being looked into as a greener-source of transportation. One observer pointed out that "crossing land to the northwest (towards US-183) the Gigafactory could be connected to the existing railway by adding less than five miles of rail. The road is practically free of buildings. Otherwise a railway track could follow State Highway 130 north for a distance of 8 miles to reach the existing railroad." The site could potentially be served by either short-line railroad operator Austin Western Railroad or Union Pacific Railroad.
Self-driving semi's could also come into play to haul finished vehicles. However, it is estimated that with current trucking options, which costs about $18 a ton mile, it would be more expensive than a rail option which would be in the $4 per ton mile range. Automated semi's could reduce the cost by some 20%, according to observers. Semi's may still be more competitive on short-haul routes than a rail option, but you must also take into consideration adding more road traffic to Austin highways, already operating at peak-time capacity plus.