Tesla has revealed that it will finally deliver 500 kW charging capabilities as it prepares to roll out its much-anticipated V4 Supercharger cabinets.
The introduction of Supercharger V4 has been, to say the least, unusual.
For two years, Tesla has been deploying what it referred to as “Supercharger V4,” but in reality, it was only installing the charging stalls.
A Supercharger station comprises two main components: the stalls, which include the charging cable accessible to users, and the cabinets, typically positioned farther away, containing the power electronics that enable the system to function.
In the case of these so-called “Supercharger V4” installations, Tesla was still utilizing the Supercharger V3 cabinets. As a result, the power output of these stations remained capped at 250 kW.
Today, Tesla has officially revealed its “V4 Cabinet,” which the automaker states is capable of “delivering up to 500kW for cars and 1.2MW for Semi.”
Tesla outlined the key features of the V4 Cabinet as follows:
Faster charging: Supports vehicle architectures ranging from 400V to 1000V, allowing for 30% faster charging for the Cybertruck.
The S3XY lineup continues to enjoy the same 250 kW charge rates offered by the V3 Cabinet, enabling charging of up to 200 miles in 15 minutes.
Faster deployments: The V4 Cabinet can power eight stalls, doubling the number supported by a single cabinet. Its reduced footprint and simplified design promise quicker site deployments.
Next-generation hardware: Incorporates advanced power electronics designed to be exceptionally reliable, offering three times the power density to achieve higher throughput while lowering costs.
Tesla also reported that the first V4 Cabinet-equipped sites are entering the permitting phase. The company anticipates opening these sites next year.
Additionally, Tesla recently introduced its Oasis Supercharger project, which features expanded solar arrays and battery packs designed to operate charging stations largely off-grid.
In the early days of deploying the Supercharger network, Tesla committed to equipping all stations with solar arrays and battery storage.
Elon Musk even claimed that most stations would be capable of operating independently from the grid.
Although Tesla did install solar arrays and batteries at a handful of locations, the majority of Supercharger stations lack standalone power systems or feature only minimal solar coverage.
In 2016, when asked about this commitment, Musk assured that Tesla had the “pieces now in place” to follow through, citing Supercharger V3, Powerpack V2, and SolarCity.
It appears that the vision is now becoming a reality, roughly eight years later, with the introduction of Supercharger V4, Megapacks, and the new Oasis project.
