Tesla, a leader in Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS), which are vital to the success of long-haul Class 8 trucking, has begun deploying its new V4 Supercharger cabinets.
[Related: Megawatt charging explained: What it is and why it matters]
The V4 cabinet Supercharger, the fourth-generation of Tesla's familiar Supercharger, was announced on the Tesla Charging X account earlier this week.
The V4 Supercharger cabinet supports up to 0.5 MW of power with triple the power density and two charging stalls per cabinet, something Tesla passenger vehicle drivers will appreciate immensely.
According to Tesla Charging, it also delivers higher throughput, improved efficiency, lower costs, and faster deployment compared to previous generations.
Amazingly, it can also be used to charge the Tesla Semi, says Tesla North American Charging Director Max de Zegher.
New V4 cabinet Supercharger
In his own follow-up post, Zegher wrote "the tech that will make 1.2MW charging for Semi, and 0.5 MW charging for cars, ubiquitous around the world."
Because there's still no nationwide Megawatt charging infrastructure, the Semi's full potential can't be realized. Or can it?
If Tesla can scale up V4 Supercharger deployment, the Semi could be ready for long-haul routes beginning on day one. In fact, a Tesla Charging executive hinted at this on X, noting the V4 cabinet could be configured to deliver 1.2 MW for the Semi.
Semi production in 2026
Tesla's new Giga Nevada facility is expected to begin Semi production in 2026, and will be dedicated solely to building Semis.
[Related: Tesla Semi factory prepares for production launch with major new equipment delivery]
The company has a goal of producing 50,000 Semis annually. To date, an estimated 70 pre-production examples have been built for early corporate testers, including PepsiCo and DHL.
Smaller fleet customers who placed $20,000 deposits per Semi remain in limbo, with no confirmed delivery dates. While rumors peg the 300-mile Semi at $150,000 and the 500-mile version at $180,000, Tesla has yet to confirm pricing, and, as with its passenger vehicles, prices could change without notice.
Two Tesla Semis operated by Saia took part in this year's North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) "Run on Less" event.
Mike Roeth, executive director of NACFE, told Clean Trucking earlier this week that final "Run" data will be released later this month.
