Electric truck milestone as Tesla Semi hits 1.2 megawatt charging

Tesla has demonstrated a significant milestone in electric long-haul trucking by showcasing its Tesla Semi charging at a peak power of 1.2 megawatts, the highest charging rate publicly revealed for heavy electric trucks. This achievement, highlighted in a new video from Tesla’s official Semi account, provides concrete evidence supporting the viability of ultra-fast charging for demanding freight routes. The charging session aligns with Tesla’s V4 Cabinet architecture, capable of delivering up to 1.2 MW for the Semi, nearly five times faster than the fastest passenger EV chargers in North America. Advanced thermal management, including liquid-cooled cables and immersion-cooled connectors, helps handle the extreme current safely. Despite the impressive peak power, some details remain unclear, such as the truck’s battery state of charge during charging and how long the Semi can sustain this peak rate before thermal limits reduce power. Without a full charging curve, it is difficult to assess real-world charging times precisely, but estimates suggest a 10 to 80 percent charge