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Tesla’s V4 Supercharger rumors begin to swirl: new designs, CCS support

Credit: Tesla

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Rumors about Tesla’s upcoming V4 Supercharger are swirling throughout the community, with various details about the new charging stacks being speculated against. Tesla Superchargers are the most populous on Earth and have also started to expand to other automakers in some regions, like Europe. However, the company is looking to bring out a new design and also a potential adoption of CCS support for non-Tesla owners.

Tesla’s current top-of-the-line Supercharger is the V3, which is capable of 250 kW charging speeds that can give owners 1,000 miles of range per hour. The introduction of the V3 Supercharger was during my first days as a journalist at Teslarati, and I remember it vividly. It was incredible to see such fast charging speeds and a controlled and calculated rollout of Tesla’s new tech. But of course, even new tech becomes outdated.

The new V4 Supercharger could have a completely updated design, according to @MarcoRPTesla, who stated that the new design will be taller, slimmer, and more streamlined than previous Supercharger shell designs.

One could argue that the design of the upcoming V4 Superchargers are similar to the Megachargers Tesla will utilize for the Semi. Teslarati showed exclusive images of the Megacharger design at the Frito-Lay factory in Modesto in June, and it is similar to the drafts of the V4 Supercharger design.

Credit: Teslarati reader Timke Klinker

As you can see from these drafted designs, the new V4 Supercharger could be completely different in terms of dimensions and could be an advantage when used with Tesla’s upcoming Cybertruck as it is a larger vehicle.

The front page of a report also leaked from Tesla that showed the company is planning to develop a Supercharger Charge Post that has Dual Cables that are suitable for both V3 and V4 charging speeds and could also include a potential CCS charging port for third-party automakers to use.

Now, Tesla has discussed opening Superchargers to third-party companies for several years, and it’s already started in the form of a Pilot Program in Europe. The same type of program could be launched in the United States later this year, and it likely will start with the V4 Supercharger. After all, the White House said in late June:

“Later this year, Tesla will begin production of new Supercharger equipment that will enable non-Tesla EV drivers in North America to use Tesla Superchargers.”

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Earlier this week, automaker Aptera pleaded to Congress that Tesla’s Supercharger should be the standard in the United States. “While electric vehicle technology has rapidly advanced, the charging standard in the U.S. has not,” Aptera wrote in an email to Teslarati. “CCS and SAE J1772, the US’s common standards, are clunky, cumbersome, and expensive.”

Tesla’s non-Tesla Supercharger pilot program expands to France, Norway

It is unlikely that Tesla’s Supercharger design will be adopted as the Standard, but the inclusion of CCS-compatible charging connectors on upcoming Superchargers would be a huge advantage for e-mobility and the adoption of EVs as a whole.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla lands massive deal to expand charging for heavy-duty electric trucks

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Credit: Tesla Semi/X

Tesla has landed a massive deal to expand its charging infrastructure for heavy-duty electric trucks — and not just theirs, but all manufacturers.

Tesla entered an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers, the largest operator of travel centers in the United States. Tesla’s Semi Chargers, which are used to charge Class 8 electric trucks, will be responsible for providing energy to various vehicles from a variety of manufacturers.

The first sites are expected to open later this Summer, and will be built at select locations along I-5 and I-10, major routes for commercial vehicles and significant logistics companies. The chargers will be available in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.

Each station will have between four and eight chargers, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.

The project is the latest in Tesla’s plans to expand Semi Charging availability. The effort is being put forth to create more opportunities for the development of sustainable logistics.

Senior Vice President of Alternative Fuels at Pilot, Shannon Sturgil, said:

“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry. 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.”

Tesla currently has 46 public Semi Charger sites in progress or planned across the United States, mostly positioned along major trucking routes and industrial areas. Perhaps the biggest bottleneck with owning an EV early on was charging availability, and that is no different with electric Class 8 trucks. They simply need an area to charge.

Tesla is spearheading the effort to expand Semicharging availability, and the latest partnership with Pilot shows the company has allies in the program.

The company plans to build 50,000 units of the Tesla Semi in the coming years, and with early adopters like PepsiCo, DHL, and others already contributing millions of miles of data, fleets are going to need reliable public charging.

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Tesla is partnering with other companies for the development of the Semi program, most notably, a conglomeration with Uber was announced last year.

Tesla lands new partnership with Uber as Semi takes center stage

The ride-sharing platform plans to launch the Dedicated EV Fleet Accelerator Program, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind buyer’s program designed to make electric freight more affordable and accessible by addressing key adoption barriers.”

The Semi is one of several projects that will take Tesla into a completely different realm. Along with Optimus and its growing Energy division, the Semi will expand Tesla to new heights, and its prioritization of charging infrastructure.

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Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station

The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.

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Credit: The Boring Company/X

Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.

Fontainebleau Loop station

The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.

The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.

Vegas Loop expansion

In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.

Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.

The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.

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Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory

The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has expanded its footprint near its Fremont Factory by leasing a 108,000-square-foot R&D facility in the East Bay. 

The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.

A new Fremont lease

Tesla will occupy the entire building at 45401 Research Ave. in Fremont, as per real estate services firm Colliers. The transaction stands as the second-largest R&D lease of the fourth quarter, trailing only a roughly 115,000-square-foot transaction by Figure AI in San Jose.

As noted in a Silicon Valley Business Journal report, Tesla’s new Fremont lease was completed with landlord Lincoln Property Co., which owns the facility. Colliers stated that Tesla’s Fremont expansion reflects continued demand from established technology companies that are seeking space for engineering, testing, and specialized manufacturing.

Tesla has not disclosed which of its business units will be occupying the building, though Colliers has described the property as suitable for office and R&D functions. Tesla has not issued a comment about its new Fremont lease as of writing.

AI investments

Silicon Valley remains a key region for automakers as vehicles increasingly rely on software, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. Erin Keating, senior director of economics and industry insights at Cox Automotive, has stated that Tesla is among the most aggressive auto companies when it comes to software-driven vehicle development.

Other automakers have also expanded their presence in the area. Rivian operates an autonomy and core technology hub in Palo Alto, while GM maintains an AI center of excellence in Mountain View. Toyota is also relocating its software and autonomy unit to a newly upgraded property in Santa Clara.

Despite these expansions, Colliers has noted that Silicon Valley posted nearly 444,000 square feet of net occupancy losses in Q4 2025, pushing overall vacancy to 11.2%.

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