Tesla has revealed its plans to build nine battery electric truck charging stations, creating an uninterrupted route from southern Texas to northern California. To fund this ambitious project, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer is seeking nearly $100 million from the US government.
As reported by Bloomberg, Tesla intends to equip each station with eight 750kW chargers for Tesla Semi vehicles and an additional four chargers for competitors’ trucks. These discussions occurred between May and early July and involved Tesla executives and the Texas Department of Transportation.
If approved, this project will establish the first charging network in the US specifically designed for electric semi-trucks, enabling long-haul electrified trucking from Texas to California and encouraging regional-haul trucking in Texas, Arizona, and California.
Tesla has suggested that the project could be eligible for federal grants under a bipartisan infrastructure programme aimed at modernising US transit systems. The company has submitted a funding application, seeking state officials’ endorsement with a supporting letter.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District in California is leading the application on behalf of Tesla. The company is seeking $97 million of federal funding and plans to contribute $24 million from its own resources. However, whether Tesla will proceed with the project without grant approval remains uncertain.
The proposed 1,800-mile route will start in Laredo, Texas, approximately 240 miles from Tesla’s Austin headquarters and 150 miles from its upcoming factory in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Notably, Tesla secured an exclusive lane at the border crossing in 2022 for transporting parts from Mexican suppliers to its U.S. factories.
