Pioneer High School students visit Tesla Gigafactory, learn about cutting-edge technology and sustainability
Field Trip to the Tesla Gigafactory: A Journey Through Cutting-Edge Technology and Sustainability
On February 9, twenty-five students from Pioneer Academy had the opportunity to visit the Tesla Gigafactory located east of Sparks, NV.
It is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the production of batteries and motors for electric vehicles and renewable energy products. The trip was organized by Envirolution, a non-profit located in Reno that focuses on connecting students with educational and career opportunities related to technology and sustainability.
Pioneer has partnered with Envirolution for other field trips over the past couple of years, and they have never failed to provide a memorable and meaningful experience for the students.
The trip started on one of the charter buses used to transport Tesla employees to the plant from all over Northern Nevada. The visit started in the lobby, where students admired the 20+ foot “living wall” which is a wall covered from floor to ceiling with a variety of plants, followed by an introduction and overview of the different motor types Tesla builds in the plant for the various car models. The students learned about Tesla's vision for a future where all transportation runs on electricity and where energy is generated through clean, renewable sources. The Nevada Gigafactory is one of five Gigafactories globally with more planned.
The students were divided into groups with half taking a plant tour while the others met with Tesla employees to learn a little about Tesla and do a small experiment. The plant actually contains two businesses, with Panasonic operating their battery production line right on-site. This reduces transportation time and resources and creates a more environmentally friendly operation. During the tour, students observed parts of the motor and battery assembly, and were impressed by the robotics and automation throughout the plant, both assembling products and moving parts between operations. During the motor assembly part of the tour, one student made the connection between the motors being assembled and the mini-generators they are currently working on in their physics class. Students certainly got their steps in walking all over that enormous factory and gained an appreciation for the sheer scale of the operation.
During the demonstration portion of the trip, students learned about the history of the Tesla plant and some of the trials and successes that have occurred over the years and how they have used those learnings to benefit other factories as they have come online. Students built their own miniature motors using a battery, a magnet, and a coil of wire. The students really enjoyed the activity with one saying “Science is so cool, I want to marry science.” It really tied the visit together for students to see how the electric motors work on a small scale to tie back to what they saw in the factory.
The field trip to the Tesla Gigafactory was an eye-opening experience for the students. They were able to witness first-hand the cutting-edge technology and sustainability practices that are shaping the future of energy and transportation. The visit was an excellent opportunity for the students to learn about the importance of innovation and sustainability, and it has inspired them to consider careers in these fields. The students asked great questions and several are seriously considering careers at the factory after graduation.