There is a persistent prejudice on social media that we have already dealt with in detail : A CAT994A wheel loader burns around 1000 liters of fuel in 12 hours and moves 250 tons of earth to produce the materials for a single Tesla battery win. But how much truth is there in this statement? Here is our fact check.

It's about this picture and this statement:

“The one CAT994A It burns about 1000 liters of fuel in hours, moving about 250 tons of earth to obtain the materials needed to make a single Tesla battery.”

Screenshot Facebook with the statement "The one CAT994A It burns about 1000 liters of fuel in hours, moving about 250 tons of earth to obtain the materials needed to make a single Tesla battery.""
Screenshot Facebook

What do we actually see in the picture?

In the photo you can see two inscriptions: CAT and 994. This is a wheel loader from the American company Caterpillar of the 994 series. These have been manufactured since 1992, the current model is the CAT 994K . Over the years, the size and specifications of the CAT 994 models have changed several times. However, many parts of the newer models can also be used for the older models. The nameplate on the back does not yet show the model letter, which is common on later models (from 994D). We didn't find any data online for a B model. The picture must be a 994C (built from around 1996) or actually the original model. news.italy24.press also assumes the latter .

The CAT994A wheel loader and fuel consumption

According to the press spokesman for Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH (Caterpillar's sales partner in Germany), the current model, the CAT 994K wheel loader, consumes between 96 and 217 liters of diesel per hour. In a 12-hour shift that's between 1,150 and 2,600 liters of diesel. The previous model, the CAT 994A, was slightly smaller and lighter, but fuel consumption shouldn't deviate too far from these figures. Therefore the value of 1000 liters for 12 hours is within a realistic range.

How many tons of earth will be moved?

This is where the real discrepancy begins. The statement that 250 tons of earth must be moved to obtain enough material for a Tesla battery is in stark contrast to the manufacturer's performance figures.

In fact, a CAT 994K wheel loader can move up to 4,800 tons of material in an hour. In a 12-hour shift, that's around 58,000 tons - far more than the stated 250 tons.

The material required for a Tesla battery

The exact amount of material needed to make a Tesla battery cannot be determined precisely because it depends on many factors. However, it is clear that the stated 250 tons of earth and 15 tons of ore for cobalt are exaggerated. Even if you take the maximum consumption of the wheel loader as a basis, it would move the required amount in a few minutes and use less than 12 liters of diesel.

Conclusion

CAT994A viral post and sharepic are false. The numbers mentioned serve primarily to create a mood against the necessary energy transition. Yes, the production of electric cars is more energy-intensive than that of combustion engine models. But electric cars leave a significantly smaller carbon footprint over their entire lifespan, especially when powered by renewable energy.


Note: If a hoax like the one described above is not corrected and continues to spread through social media and other online platforms, it can have the following negative consequences.

Misleading the public: Spreading false information about topics such as the energy consumption of electric cars can significantly influence public understanding and opinion about this technology. For example, people could be tricked into underestimating the benefits of electric mobility or overestimating the environmental impact of conventional combustion engines.

Political impact: Misinformation can also influence political debates and decision-making processes. You can e.g. B. lead to politicians and legislators making decisions based on inaccurate or misleading information.

Market distortion: Misinformation can influence the demand for certain products or services and thus distort the market. For example, the willingness to buy electric cars or invest in renewable energy may decrease due to misinformation.

Undermining trust: Misinformation can undermine trust in institutions, experts and the media. When people no longer know who or what to believe, this can lead to cynicism, apathy and social polarization.


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )