Pilot Travel Centers has announced a partnership with Tesla to deploy Semi Chargers at select travel center locations across the United States. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026, with the first sites expected to open in summer 2026. The charging stations will be positioned along I-5, I-10, and other major freight corridors.
Highlights
- Pilot will install Tesla Semi Chargers at locations in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas starting in early 2026
- Each site will feature four to eight charging stalls using Tesla’s V4 cabinet technology, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts per stall
- The network will initially support Tesla Semi trucks, with potential expansion to other heavy-duty EVs in the future
- Tesla claims the Semi can recover the majority of its 500-mile range in approximately 30 minutes
Partnership Details
Pilot, the largest travel center operator in North America, will equip select locations with Tesla’s V4 cabinet charging technology. Each site will accommodate four to eight charging stalls capable of delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power per stall.
Shannon Sturgil, senior vice president of alternative fuels at Pilot, stated that heavy-duty charging represents an extension of the company’s alternative fuel strategy. The partnership leverages Tesla’s turnkey deployment capabilities.
Network Coverage and Compatibility
The initial rollout targets high-demand freight corridors, with installations planned along Interstate 5, Interstate 10, and additional major routes. States confirmed for the first phase include California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
The charging network will initially serve Tesla Semi trucks exclusively. Pilot has indicated the infrastructure may be expanded to support heavy-duty electric vehicles from other manufacturers in the future.
Charging Performance
Tesla states that Semi trucks can recover the majority of their 500-mile range during a 30-minute charging session. This timeframe aligns with federally mandated rest periods for commercial drivers.
About Pilot Travel Centers
Pilot Travel Centers, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The company operates more than 900 locations across 44 states and five Canadian provinces, serving approximately 1.2 million guests daily. Pilot employs roughly 30,000 team members and supplies approximately 12 billion gallons of fuel annually through North America’s third-largest fuel tanker fleet.
The company’s alternative fuels portfolio includes biodiesel, renewable diesel, higher-blend biodiesel, hydrogen, and EV charging infrastructure. Additional information is available at pilotcompany.com.
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