Tesla's Ingenious Underground Tunnel for Cybertruck Delivery

After two years of meticulous planning and construction, Tesla has achieved a significant milestone at its Texas Gigafactory - the completion of a massive underground tunnel. The purpose of this tunnel is nothing short of extraordinary.

As reported by Electrek, Tesla intends to utilize this new tunnel to transport freshly manufactured Cybertrucks from the factory, under a nearby highway, to its new vehicle staging area. The most impressive part? The trucks won't even require a driver for this journey.

The Boring Company, another one of Elon Musk's ventures, announced that its tunnel boring machine, Prufrock 3, had successfully completed its mission at Giga Texas. The machine was first spotted on-site in January and appears to have finished its task on or before June 8, as observed by a drone operator surveying the Austin factory.

Another drone operator captured Prufrock beginning its descent on April 4, implying it took approximately four days to complete the half-mile journey beneath the nearby Pickle Parkway. The Boring Company states that Prufrock-3 is designed to exceed 1/10th of human walking speed, equating to around one mile of tunneling per week.

This tunnel serves as a conduit, connecting Tesla's new southern factory expansion to its staging area across the highway. According to sources familiar with the tunnel, its primary function is to transport Cybertrucks from the end of the production line to the staging area.

Tesla initiated the permitting phase of its "Colorado River Connector Tunnel" plan in June 2022. At that time, Tesla's plans were unclear, and two underpasses were already constructed beneath the highway at the northern and southernmost tips of the factory. Now, it's evident that the goal is to create a method that allows Tesla to transport trucks more efficiently.

The total cost of the tunnel remains undisclosed. However, according to Tech Crunch, Tesla paid The Boring Company $200,000 in 2023 and $1 million through February 2024. This has drawn some criticism towards Musk, as it's not the first instance of Tesla utilizing the services of its CEO's other companies.

In conclusion, this innovative approach by Tesla showcases its commitment to efficiency and technological advancement, further solidifying its position as a leader in the electric vehicle market.

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Source: InsideEVs