Tesla has actually managed to reduce the environmental impact of its vehicles over the years, from the Model S to the Model Y. This is according to the observations of automotive teardown specialist Sandy Munro in his ongoing analysis of the all-electric crossover.
Tesla is arguably the most environmentally-conscious carmaker that is operating today. The company is founded on the principle that vehicles that run on sustainable energy can be just as fun and amazing as the best petrol-powered cars in the market. Sustainability is at the heart of Tesla, and this is represented by its zero-emissions vehicles all the way to the net-zero targets for its Gigafactories.
As noted by Sandy Munro in a recent video, Tesla’s vehicles from the Model S to the Model Y have actually become more friendly to the environment. Part of this is due to the elimination of chrome trim in the all-electric crossover. If one were to look at Tesla’s vehicle lineup—from the Model S to the Model X to the Model 3 and to the Model Y—it becomes evident that the company has kept up a reduction of chrome for its EVs over the years.
Munro remarked that this actually means that the Model Y is more environmentally-friendly. This is because chrome is not very sustainable, with some workers in chrome factories ending up with heavy metals in their bloodstream. The Model Y completely eliminated chrome, which means that any of the health concerns associated with the trim is not associated with the vehicle.
It’s not just the Model Y’s dechromed trim either. Munro also noted that the door modules for the all-electric crossover are very easy to recycle. The same is true with the Model Y’s paint design. As could be seen in Munro’s teardown, several parts of the Model Y’s body are not painted. This has attracted some criticism from Tesla skeptics, but Munro begged to differ, stating that not painting parts that are not visible on the exterior makes sense.
Overall, Munro’s observations show that the Tesla Model Y is designed to be a vehicle that is as sustainable as possible. It’s built with materials that do not harm workers, its parts are easy to recycle, and its use of paint is optimized. This could very well be a winning combination for the vehicle, not just in terms of sales, but for its overall impact to the environment as well.
Featured Image Credit: Tesla
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Ma. Claribelle Deveza
Longtime writer and news/book editor. Writing about Tesla allows me to contribute something good to the world, while doing something I love.
