As automakers shift to building electric vehicles, they are also working to clean up the manufacturing process. Brands big and small are pushing to decarbonize their factories, and that includes finding new, sustainable sources of energy to power assembly lines. Stellantis dipped its wheels into space, announcing today that it has entered into an agreement with Vulcan Energy Resources to explore providing one plant with geothermal energy.
It will be the automaker’s first use of geothermal energy, but the project is still years away from fruition. The first phase of the project at the Rüsselsheim Stellantis plant in Germany will include a pre-feasibility study with Vulcan building the geothermal asset at the site. If this is deemed successful, the next phase of the project will focus on drilling and follow-up studies and development. Both have signed a binding terms sheet for the undertaking.
Stellantis, the conglomerate that combines PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, hopes to become an “industry leader in climate change mitigation.” It has detailed plans to go net zero carbon by 2038 and reduce it by 50 percent by the end of the decade.
“This partnership with Vulcan reinforces our commitment to promote greater clean energy solutions across our company,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, adding that the project is “aligned with our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.” The automaker detailed its plans last March, setting a goal of selling only electric vehicles in Europe by 2030.
Assuming the automaker, Rüsselsheim, which built the DS4 and Opel Astra, could receive “a large part” of its energy needs from geothermal from 2025. Vulcan and Stellantis are also exploring potential business models, including selling surplus energy to the public. lattice.
“Vulcan is here to support Stellantis, our largest lithium customer and one of our major shareholders, to decarbonize its European operations,” said Vulcan managing director and CEO, Dr. Francis Wedin.
The industry’s shift toward EVs has also led automakers to look for other, more sustainable ways to build and operate cars. Companies are exploring many avenues to reduce their carbon footprint during production. We will likely see more automakers exploring geothermal and other alternative energy sources by the end of the decade.
