Tesla opens electric truck charging hub for Semi customers
Tesla plans to open truck chargers at 37 locations by 2026. The first publicly accessible charger has now reportedly gone live in California. The company announced this development on social media. The so-called ‘Megacharger’ is located at 4265 E Guasti Road in Ontario and is available for Semi fleet customers. However, the charging power is currently listed as 750 kW, while Tesla’s truck charging technology is theoretically capable of delivering up to 1.2 megawatts.Officially, this new site marks Tesla’s third Megacharger location in the US. The company already operates one site at its Gigafactory in Nevada and another in Carson, California, near the 405/110 motorways and the Port of Long Beach. However, these are internal charging sites reserved for Tesla and a small circle of partners.The inauguration of the customer-facing Megacharger represents a significant step forward for the Semi programme. This progress is further underscored by recent company activities. For example, Tesla recently updated its ‘Find Us’ map with over 60 new Megacharger locations across 15 US states, providing the most detailed overview yet of the charging network being developed for the Tesla Semi.Together with three existing megawatt-scale sites, the map now shows a total of 65 Tesla truck charging locations along several freight corridors from the West to the East Coast. The network will span the aforementioned 15 states, with Texas leading with 19 planned sites and California close behind with 17.It remains unclear when charging will be available at these sites, as all pending locations on the map are marked as ‘coming soon.’ However, according to the portal Electrek, there are indications of the timeline: Dan Priestley, Head of the Tesla Semi Programme, announced in April 2025 that Tesla aims to build 46 Megacharger stations by early 2027. Additionally, Tesla’s Q4 financial report included a map showing 37 sites specifically planned for commissioning in 2026.The partnership announced in January between Tesla and Pilot Travel Centers to develop a proprietary truck charging network also points to a rapid roll-out. Construction of Tesla Semi charging stations at selected Pilot locations in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas is set to begin in the first half of 2026, with the first stations expected to open as early as summer 2026. Each Pilot hub will feature four to eight charging stations, utilising Tesla’s V4 charging technology, which is designed to deliver up to 1.2 megawatts per station. Pilot Travel Centers is the largest operator of truck stops in North America.Important: The deal between Pilot Travel Centers and Tesla initially provides for exclusive use of the truck chargers by Tesla customers. The official statement reads: “This network will initially focus on providing charging infrastructure for Tesla’s Semi trucks.” However, the charging stations could be opened to third-party brands in the future, similar to Tesla’s Supercharger network for passenger vehicles. The partners select locations based on ‘where the need for heavy-duty charging is highest.’ Pilot Travel Centers operates around 900 sites across 44 US states and five Canadian provinces.The charging hardware installed will be the 1.2-MW charging solution announced by Tesla last spring for the Semi, based on its proprietary V4 technology. Tesla also uses this technology to enhance its passenger vehicle chargers. The system consists of a decentralised setup with sleek satellite chargers and a separate power unit, known as the Powerunit. When scaled up, the technology can achieve the aforementioned 1.2 MW, which is expected to restore the majority of the Semi’s 800-kilometre range in half an hour.The increasing infrastructure activities suggest that the Tesla Semi is finally nearing its market launch and is expected to hit the market this year. The truck’s launch has been delayed for years. Production is set to take place in a separate facility adjacent to the Gigafactory Nevada. According to an earlier report by Electrek, Tesla completed the building in early 2025 and has begun work on the production lines. The facility is expected to have an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles. First unveiled in 2017 and initially promised for 2019, the Semi is now expected to enter sales in 2026.It has been clear since at least September 2024 that the Tesla Semi is not only destined for the US market but will also come to Europe. The model attracted significant attention at the IAA in Hanover, where long queues formed to see the electric US truck. However, company representatives made it clear at the time that the market debut would be delayed by at least two years—meaning it would not happen before 2026. Last year, there was movement on the matter, at least in terms of personnel: Usuf Schermo posted on LinkedIn that he is working as ‘Head of Business Development EMEA’ for the Tesla Semi. EMEA stands for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.electrek.co, x.com
