The Tesla Roadster is an electric car, which means it doesn’t produce any carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from its tailpipe 🚗. However, when we look at the whole process, including how the electricity used to charge it is made, things get a bit more complicated. In many places, electricity is still generated using fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, which do produce CO2 🌫️.
For example, if the electricity used to charge a Tesla comes from a place that relies heavily on fossil fuels, like Minnesota, the CO2 emissions per mile can be around 300 grams. On the other hand, in places with cleaner energy sources, like California, this number can be much lower, around 100 grams per mile 🌞.
The Tesla Roadster itself is very efficient, using about 0.4 megajoules of electricity per kilometer, which is quite good compared to other cars 🚀. When we consider the overall carbon footprint, including production and supply chain emissions, Tesla’s total footprint is significant, with the company reporting around 30.7 million tons of CO2 from its supply chain in 2022 🌎.
Overall, while the Tesla Roadster is a clean car in terms of direct emissions, its total carbon footprint depends on many factors, including where its electricity comes from and how it is made 🌟.
The Tesla Roadster that was launched into space by SpaceX is a special case, as the massive CO2 emissions from the rocket launch far outweigh any emissions from the car itself 🚀. However, as it travels through space, it becomes incredibly efficient in terms of fuel usage, though this doesn’t directly affect its carbon footprint on Earth 🌠.