Tesla is Working With Major Companies to Setup Semi Charging: Report

Tesla is now working on setting up charging stations for its upcoming Semi.

Late last year, the American automaker introduced the Semi at a special event, promising to deliver around 500 miles on a single charge and a towing capacity of 80,000 pounds. But the company has stayed relatively quiet since the Semi’s debut, despite several major companies confirming orders. One of the biggest tasks Tesla has to get in order is setting up a charging infrastructure for its Semi and Reuters reports the automaker is working with Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo, and United Parcel Service Inc. to build on-site charging terminals at their facilities.

Details of the partnerships are still being discussed, but the companies say it will include design and engineering from Tesla. It’s unclear if Tesla will pay any portion of the building costs, or if Tesla will be compensated for its work. The three companies are among nine major corporations that have confirmed pre-orders for the Semi.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Semi Debuts With 500 Miles of Range, 80,000 lb Towing Capacity

Sources that spoke to Reuters regarding the matter said the first step is to install charging equipment on their own premises, which means the Semis would be limited to routes based on their range. But PepsiCo admits it may explore the idea of sharing facilities and costs with other companies. PepsiCo has pre-ordered 100 Tesla Semis.

The automaker itself is reportedly moving forward with plans to build its own stations to sell electricity to truckers who need a charge. They wouldn’t be the same Supercharger stations regular Tesla vehicles use, but rather what Musk has called solar-powered “megachargers” that could charge up the Semi battery in just 30 minutes.

The major question remains whether or not Tesla can deliver on the promise of the Semi, especially given its recent struggles with producing the Model 3.

[Source: Reuters]

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