From Joe Tegtmeyer.
Gigafactory Texas! This is where Model Y’s, and Cyber Truck production happens and in 2025, the Next Generation Car(s), Cybercab & the Optimus Robot!
The string of big news keeps coming for Tesla, and today is not an exception, with the introduction of the new Megapack 3 and the incorporation of this into an integrated Megablock solution set. This development partly explains why we have been seeing so many transformers at Giga Texas over the past year or so!
Timestamps:
Introduction with discussion & illustrations: 0:06 to 4:55
Drone flight footage & infographics: 5:18 to 32:42
In the introduction, I briefly cover the Tesla “Las Megas” Keynote event last night in Las Vegas to introduce their new Megapack integrated solution, the Megablock which combines Megapack 3s, integrated transformers and modular setup into a cost-effective, easy to set up energy storage solution. The reason Tesla held their Megapack 3 unveiling event in Las Vegas tonight is because RE+, the largest clean energy convention in North America, is happening this week.
Megablock is the latest in the company’s industrial storage product lineup, which includes the new Megapack version 3, is 23% faster to install with up to 40% lower construction costs. It offers a Plug and Play (P&P) platform (hardware, software and services) and is delivered as a pre-engineered medium-voltage block that integrates next-gen Megapack 3. This solution eliminates above ground cabling between the transformer and the megapacks using new flexible busbar assembly.
The system boasts a 91% MV round trip efficiency, 20 MWh of usable AC energy, and operates in temps of -40°C (-40°F) to 60°C (140°F). Overall, Tesla Megablock offers 248 MWhs per acre, a 25-year life, and over 10,000 cycles.
A single module in it weighs as much as a Cybertruck! Tesla has enabled easier front access service, so there are no roof penetrations, and they have also drastically simplified the bussing system.
After the Keynote, Elon was asked if this means Tesla was entering into the transformer business, building their own in another vertically integrated manufacturing process and he confirmed this is exactly what Tesla is doing.
As you may recall, over the past year, multiple hundreds of transformers have been arriving, accumulating and then departing Giga Texas staging yards, and this hints at why. There is a nation-wide (in fact, world-wide) transformers shortage due to rapidly increasing energy demands, and this will only get worse as AI Datacenters continue to be built in large scale over the rest of this decade and beyond.
A few highlights from today’s Drone flight:
Big switchyard concrete pour today on the second of two huge transformer bases and catch basins, along with more large-diameter conduit installation on the north side of the underground vault. Smaller conduit is being installed on the south side of the vault, while scaffolding was erected on both of the control trailers on top of the vault. Rebar cages were being assembled in preparation of making piles to support footings for the expanded switchyard.
The Cortex 2 facility continues to see progress on the exterior walls, while crews add more roofing insulation and weatherproof membranes, now nearly 50% of the roof is completed. On the inside, I could see multiple areas where trenching and pipe installation was underway for utilities and ahead of the ground slab construction.
On a final note, I saw more Cybertrucks being used to pull casting racks, delivering castings to the production line and bringing empty racks back to the north sorting lot.
Thank you for watching and I hope this has been informative, educational, and entertaining for you. If you would like, please consider supporting me via Patreon (link is in the description of this video and in the video itself) so I can continue to make and share these incredible videos.
Sources used in this video:
https://x.com/Tesla/status/1965234074949402782
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Be sure to check out additional Texas Gigafactory footage on these channels:
@Jeff Roberts
@Brad Sloan
Video, photos, illustrations, and commentary on this video is by me, Joe Tegtmeyer unless otherwise annotated.
Music in this video is obtained from the YouTube free and unrestricted and royalty-free use library. Ending song is Mr. Sunny Face – Wayne Jones
Drones used are DJI Mini 2, Mavic Air 2 & Air 3.
Drone flight over Giga Texas is with permission of Tesla and CEO Elon Musk
