An early look at Elon Musk's Gigafactory, a building that could change the world

tesla gigafactory
Early concept art for Tesla's Gigafactory. Tesla Motors

Tesla's Gigafactory could change the world.

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For those unfamiliar, Tesla describes its massive 5.5 million square-foot Gigafactory as a way to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transportation."

The first Gigafactory, located outside Sparks, Nevada, is an ambitious manufacturing facility that plans to build the batteries for Tesla’s electric cars for the foreseeable future. Tesla wants to build batteries that cost significantly less “using economies of scale, innovative manufacturing, reduction of waste, and the simple optimization of locating most manufacturing process under one roof.”

The Gigafactory is also notable since it will be powered completely by renewable energy, according to Tesla.

Tesla’s first Gigafactory aims to start building battery cells by 2017, reaching full capacity by 2020. But for now, all we can do is view the Gigafactory from the outside. And thanks to a drone pilot and his low-altitude quadrocopter, we can see how construction on the $5 billion building is coming along.

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Here's Tesla's first Gigafactory, located just outside Sparks, Nevada.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66

Most recently, Tesla spent an estimated $4.5 million to build the first phase of the Gigafactory's roof, according to work permits obtained by the Reno Gazette-Journal.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66
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Tesla expects the roof to be complete by February 2016. Solar panels are coming later, but the white foundation will ensure the roof stays cool, thus optimizing the efficiency of the solar panels.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66

Tesla has spent millions of dollars building the "trailer city" around the Gigafactory, with several hundred thousand dollars spent on building a fire command center and guard shack, according to work permits.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66
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The Gigafactory's foundation alone cost an estimated $16 million.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66

This summer, Tesla spent nearly $13 million on the steel and concrete for the building's mezzanine.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66
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The electrical infrastructure for the Gigafactory reportedly cost Tesla about $300,000.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66

As Tesla puts the finishing touches on the exterior, it will begin building out the building’s interior, which aims to be completed by February. The "architectural interiors" will reportedly cost $10 million.

tesla gigafactory
YouTube/Black66
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If you want the full drone's-eye-view experience, check out the video below.

And be sure to visit the Reno Gazette-Journal for a complete list of Tesla's work permits and construction costs — it's astounding to see the amount of work going into this important sustainable building.

Tesla Elon Musk Sustainability
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