Tesla collaborates with customers to build on-site charging terminals for Tesla Semi

Tesla has promised game-changing specs for its Tesla Semi, but has said little about the charging infrastructure the electric truck will use.

Now Reuters reports that Tesla is collaborating with Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo and UPS to build on-site charging terminals at their facilities. The companies said that the partnerships include design and engineering from Tesla, but declined to disclose the financial arrangements.

Companies that spoke with Reuters described the installation of charging equipment on their own premises as a first step. The Semis would initially be limited to routes that would get them back to home base before their batteries are spent.

PepsiCo, which has reserved 100 Tesla Semis, said it may eventually explore sharing facilities and costs with other companies. The food conglomerate has held multiple meetings with Tesla to discuss the recharging effort, said PepsiCo executive Mike O’Connell. “We have a lot of in-house capability around energy and engineering…and certainly Tesla brings their expertise to the table on energy and charging.”

Anheuser-Busch, which has ordered 40 Tesla Semis, is evaluating installing its own charging equipment at large breweries and other key locations, according to Senior Director of Supply Chain James Sembrot. “What was important to us was to make a big investment in this cutting-edge technology and secure our place in line.”

UPS, which has 125 Semis on order, also confirmed that it expects to work closely with Tesla to build on-site charging stations.

Separately, Tesla is moving ahead with plans for its own stations to sell electricity to truckers who pull up for a charge, customers and transportation industry executives told Reuters.

 

Source: Reuters

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