Pilot Travel Centers has entered into an agreement with Tesla to install Semi Chargers to facilitate heavy-duty electric vehicle truck charging.
The Tesla charging stations will be built at select Pilot locations along I-5, I-10, and several major corridors where the need for heavy-duty charging is highest. The first sites are expected to open in Summer 2026.
“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry,” says Shannon Sturgil, senior vice president of alternative fuels at Pilot. “Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings, and we’re happy to partner with a leader in the space that provides turnkey solutions and deploys them quickly.”
The company states construction of Tesla Semi Chargers will begin in the first half of 2026 at select Pilot travel centers planned across California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Pilot travel centers equipped with Tesla Semi Chargers will host four to eight charging stalls and will leverage Tesla’s V4 cabinet charging technology, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.
This network will initially focus on providing charging infrastructure for Tesla’s Semi trucks. In the future, it may be expanded to be compatible with heavy-duty electric vehicles from other manufacturers, the company says.
Tesla states the majority of a Semi truck’s 500-mile range can be recovered in a 30-minute charge session, matching a normal mandated break period for professional drivers.
