Tesla’s Big-Rig Charging Ambitions Face Another Setback
The U.S. Department of Transportation has once again excluded Tesla from federal funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, rejecting the automaker’s $100 million proposal to build a semi-truck charging corridor along a key West Coast route.
Funding Snub Highlights Challenges for Tesla Semi Program
In its latest round of awards, the DOT allocated $636 million to 49 recipients through its Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program. Tesla’s application, submitted in partnership with California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District, failed to make the cut - marking the second rejection for the proposed charging network.
Key details about the rejected proposal:
- Planned 1,800-mile corridor from Fremont, CA to Laredo, TX
- Would have included nine charging stations
- Each station equipped with eight 750kW Tesla Semi chargers
- Four additional chargers open to other electric trucks (federal requirement)
Image: TechCrunch
Tesla’s Commercial EV Program Faces Headwinds
The funding rejection comes as Tesla struggles to scale its electric semi-truck program:
- Limited deliveries to early customers like Pepsi and Frito-Lay
- Nevada production facility still under construction
- Revealed Semi prototype in 2017 but commercial rollout delayed
The TESSERACT Project Timeline
Tesla first applied for CFI funding in 2023 under the program name “Transport Electrification Supporting Semis Operating in Arizona, California, and Texas” (TESSERACT). The proposal included:
- $100 million federal request
- $24 million in matching Tesla funds
After being passed over in early 2024’s $623 million funding round, Tesla continued pursuing the project. Former policy VP Rohan Patel called some corridor sites “no-brainers even without funding.”
However, recent developments have cast doubt on the project’s future:
- Mass layoffs affecting 10% of workforce
- Disbanding of Tesla’s charging team
- Uncertain federal funding timeline under incoming administration
What’s Next for EV Charging Infrastructure?
The bipartisan infrastructure law allocated $2.5 billion total for the CFI program. While additional funding rounds may occur, the Federal Highway Administration’s website currently lists “no estimated date” for the next opportunity.
This latest rejection raises questions about:
- Tesla’s ability to build out commercial EV infrastructure
- The future of federal support for private charging projects
- The timeline for widespread adoption of electric semi-trucks
Industry analysts will be watching closely to see how Tesla responds to this setback and whether it can advance its Semi program without federal support.
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