PepsiCo plans to build a large Tesla Semi charging depot at its Frito-Lay facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. The site will include 18 stalls and three Tesla Megapack batteries. This will be the first high-capacity Tesla Semi charging site east of the Mississippi River.
Permit filings found by EV infrastructure tracker MarcoRP confirm the installation. The site will use 18 V4 Semi Chargers, each capable of delivering about 1 megawatt of power. It will also have three Megapacks for energy storage to help manage grid demand and support short-term backup.
Charlotte connects major freight routes along I-85 and I-77, making it a key point for shipments between the Mid-Atlantic and the South.
Until now, Tesla’s Semi charging setups were only located in the western U.S. This will be the first major Semi-focused build in the Southeast. The Megapacks will store a total of around 9 megawatt-hours, helping reduce strain on the local grid during peak times and allowing brief operation if the grid goes down.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Semi?
Tesla’s Semi chargers can push out up to 1.2 megawatts, enough to add around 350 miles of range in about 30 minutes. That covers most freight routes PepsiCo uses for snacks and drinks. It makes charging during delivery stops possible without slowing down schedules.
PepsiCo had received around 86 Tesla Semis by late 2024, using them on routes between 100 and 450 miles. The trucks have shown real-world energy use of about 1.7 kWh per mile. Charlotte’s build helps support PepsiCo’s goal to cut direct emissions by 75% before 2030.
PepsiCo’s Tesla Semi rollout so far
| Location | Chargers | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | 4 | Operational (2023) | First pilot site |
| Sacramento, CA | 4 | Operational (2023) | Upgraded grid (3 MW) |
| Fresno, CA | 8 | Permitted (2023) | Previously largest |
| Bakersfield, CA | 8 | Permitted (2025) | Near public Kelton Way hub |
| Charlotte, NC | 18 | Permitted (2025) | First East Coast site |
Tesla’s charging network for Semis is growing
Tesla is working on 46 public Semi charging locations, expected to be ready by early 2027. These will support over 300 megawatts of total power. One of the largest, called Project Oasis, is in Coalinga, California and will feature 168 stalls plus an on-site microgrid. Smaller versions will appear along key routes.
In Charlotte, Tesla is providing chargers and software, while PepsiCo is covering the site work and upgrades. It’s a model similar to what helped speed up Tesla’s Supercharger rollout for passenger cars.
Why it matters for Trucking and Energy
- Lower costs – At an off-peak U.S. commercial rate of $0.14 per kWh, running a Tesla Semi is about 23% cheaper per mile than using a 7 mpg diesel truck.
- Stronger grid support – Sites with Megapacks can help flatten spikes in demand and offer backup power or income through demand response programs.
- Regulations are changing – New emissions rules from the EPA and zero-emission truck targets are pushing freight companies to go electric. Fully built depots make that switch easier.
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