Tesla's European Megacharger Rollout Starts With Over 100 Megawatt-Capable Chargers

The Tesla Semi’s European launch depends on a solid charging infrastructure.

Photo by: Tesla

By: Iulian Dnistran

Sep 17, at 5:26am ET

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Tesla is gearing up to install the first megawatt-capable chargers in Europe.
The first Megachargers in the region will support the launch of the Semi truck.
Over 100 stalls are planned for the initial rollout, with 21 stations scattered throughout Germany, France, the UK, Sweden, and Benelux.

The Tesla Semi is officially going to Europe, with the first deliveries scheduled for next year, but unlike traditional diesel trucks, the futuristic electric tractor needs a high-powered charging infrastructure to make it a viable option.

Thankfully, Tesla has already mapped out where the first megawatt-capable chargers will be installed in Europe, supporting the launch of the battery-powered single-seater. According to Dan Priestley, the Semi’s head of development, Tesla will install over 100 Megachargers at 21 stations in the region, but a timeline for this initial rollout was not disclosed.

Tesla Megacharger European Rollout

Photo by: Tesla

During Priestley’s presentation at this year’s IAA Transportation fair in Hanover, a slide showed that Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg will get dibs on the first Tesla-branded megawatt chargers in Europe.

The company’s Megachargers can deliver up to 1.2 megawatts, replenishing the Semi’s huge battery pack to 60% in roughly 30 minutes. In Europe, Megachargers will come with a 1,000-volt power cabinet and two stalls that can send up to 1,500 amperes to an EV.

Both the Semi and the Megacharger are fitted with an MCS 3.2 connector, which means other power-hungry electric trucks won’t be able to use Tesla’s megawatt chargers in the region. However, Tesla will provide CCS adapters to Semi customers, enabling them to recharge at CCS2 stalls across the continent.

Tesla Semi (European Specification)

Photo by: Tesla

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Besides developing a public Megacharger network in Europe, Tesla will also sell its sleek dispensers to anyone who needs them—think logistics hubs that need their own stalls. The order books are already open for both the Megacharger and the lower-powered Basecharger, with the first European deliveries scheduled for the middle of next year. A Megacharger bundle with a power cabinet and two stalls costs €163,000, while the 120-kW all-in-one Basecharger goes for €17,000, but there’s a mandatory two-unit order.

The Basecharger integrates all of the necessary components into a single housing and is geared toward companies that can recharge their electric trucks over longer periods of time. With a DC output of 120 kW and an AC output of 125 kW, it can increase the Semi’s state of charge to 80% in about four hours, according to Tesla.