Tesla (TSLA) and Pilot have opened their first joint truck charging station in Ellabell, Georgia, with six Megacharger stalls available, Pilot said October 8. Pilot says the launch gives Tesla Semi operators a charging stop at an existing travel center, putting the partners’ freight corridor plans into operation.
The chargers are at Pilot #1390, at 130 Interstate Exchange Way. Pilot says another dozen heavy duty charging locations are under construction, including three nearing completion: Tulare, California; Fort Stockton, Texas; and North Las Vegas, Nevada. Tulare is scheduled to open October 9; the other two have no opening dates in the announcement.
The announcement follows summer plans
Pilot’s earlier announcement said the first stations were expected during summer 2026. Its announcement of the first joint opening has arrived in October, after that target, but it does not specify the actual opening date. For fleets weighing electric trucks, the useful distinction is between a charger they can use and a location still on a construction schedule.
The network is initially designed for Tesla’s Semi. Pilot previously said the partners envisioned serving other manufacturers’ heavy duty electric trucks, too, but that was a future ambition rather than confirmation of access today. Tesla’s charging guide says Megacharger sites currently support only Tesla Semi trucks registered in a Tesla for Business account. Drivers plug in to start charging automatically, and the fleet’s account is billed monthly.
Tesla says charging prices vary by site and can change throughout the day, with current rates shown on the truck’s touchscreen or in the Tesla app. The price is fixed when the truck plugs in; neither Pilot’s opening announcement nor Tesla’s guide gives an Ellabell rate.
Pilot says the sites will have four to eight stalls using Tesla’s V4 power cabinets. It attributes to Tesla a maximum output of 1.2 megawatts per stall and the ability to restore 60% charge in 30 minutes, performance claims rather than results from an independent charging test.
The rollout also follows a separate September announcement that Tesla would operate public Megachargers at three planned Forum Mobility depots in California, Reuters reported. That report does not independently confirm the Ellabell opening.
Watch whether Tulare meets its announced opening date next. Pilot’s plans to serve other truck manufacturers still lack a timetable, and Tesla says its Megachargers currently support only the Semi.
Sources
- 1.Pilot and Tesla Open First Megacharger Site, Announce Three Additional Locations Opening Soon · Pilot Company
- 2.Pilot and Tesla Join Forces to Build Electric Semi-Truck Charging Network · Pilot Company
- 3.Tesla taps Forum Mobility for California electric-truck charging stations · Reuters via Investing.com
- 4.Semi Charging · Tesla
Reported by the WattsUpNext desk from the sources linked below. Spot an error? Tell us at corrections@wattsupnext.com.
The WattsUpNext Brief
Get stories like this in your inbox.
One email each weekday, only the topics you choose. Real news, sourced, no fluff. Unsubscribe in one click.
