When building a massive factory, especially in a water-scarce area, people will inevitably have questions. Tesla's Gigafactory near Berlin has been a lightning rod for this exact issue since its inception, facing heavy criticism over its potential water use. However, the reality of the situation turns out to be quite different from what many feared.
A recent report from Teslarati revealed some surprising statistics. The Giga Berlin factory is remarkably efficient, using just 2.16 cubic meters of water for every car it builds. For comparison, the industry average is around 3.5 cubic meters.
However, the truly impressive aspect of the story is what the factory does with its wastewater. Thanks to a high-tech treatment plant on site, the water is cleaned so thoroughly that it can be returned directly to the local water cycle.
In a region plagued by water scarcity, this is a game-changer. The factory isn't just taking less water from the community; it's actively putting clean water back into the groundwater system that local families and farmers depend on.
For car buyers, this kind of hyper-efficiency is great news. When a company slashes production costs by using fewer resources, those savings can eventually translate to more affordable electric vehicles. And of course, using less water helps protect local ecosystems, especially in regions facing drought.
The company could use the good press, as it has faced a challenging year. In California, a key market, Tesla's sales saw a significant drop in the third quarter of 2025. Its environmental record hasn't been without controversy, either.
As The Telegraph reported, environmental groups have accused the Berlin plant of polluting local rivers with phosphorus and nitrogen. Other Tesla facilities have also faced scrutiny, such as the Austin Gigafactory, which drew complaints from local residents about light pollution.
Still, Giga Berlin's efforts have earned it a prestigious environmental certification, and the company continues to innovate, recently using artificial intelligence to cut energy use in its factories dramatically.
These manufacturing savings are just one part of the EV ownership puzzle. Whether you drive a Tesla or other EV, the real savings for drivers often happen at home, since charging an EV in your garage is significantly cheaper than using public chargers and can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Companies like Qmerit are helping homeowners get free, instant estimates for installing Level 2 EV chargers. The savings can increase even more by installing solar panels, as charging with your own energy is the cheapest option of all. EnergySage makes it easy to compare quotes from trusted local installers, helping you save up to $10,000 on solar energy systems.
The debate over big factories isn't going away. Still, it's hard to argue with innovations like this. Steps that save resources and give back to the community are good news for consumers' wallets and the planet.