Tesla is rolling out an innovative solution to alleviate congestion at busy Supercharger stations as holiday travel ramps up across the United States. The automaker has deployed a fleet of mobile Megapack Chargers in strategic locations to ensure seamless charging for electric vehicle (EV) owners during peak travel times.
Last week Tesla said they were anticipating record demand on their Supercharger network, forecasting 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy usage per day across the global network. As part of their strategy to deal with the increased demand, Tesla has rolled out a series of mobile Superchargers in the US powered by Tesla Megapacks.
Over the weekend, Tesla announced that four Megapack Chargers have been deployed at high-traffic locations: Bakersfield, CA; Primm, NV; El Centro, CA; and Cambridge, OH. These locations were selected based on their proximity to popular travel routes, where demand for Superchargers tends to spike during holidays.
The Megapack Charger is a trailer-mounted unit that combines Tesla’s stationary Megapack battery storage system with eight Supercharger stalls, delivering a rapid and flexible charging solution. Each unit boasts a 3 megawatt-hours (MWh) capacity, capable of charging approximately 75 vehicles, and provides up to 250 kilowatts (kW) of power per stall.
Despite their mobile nature, these chargers appear in Tesla’s navigation system, allowing drivers to see real-time availability and plan their routes accordingly.
Max de Zegher, Tesla’s Director of Charging for North America, highlighted the utility of these mobile units, emphasizing their ability to mitigate bottlenecks and support disaster relief efforts.
“Megapack Chargers have 3 MWh of capacity capable of charging ~75 cars, 8 x 250kW posts, and are Starlink connected. They’re a powerful tool for temporary congestion bottlenecks and disruptions like hurricanes. They’re recharged within hours by taking a nearby Supercharger cabinet offline at night, when usage is low. They’re costly and high bandwidth to deploy, but make all the difference for getting customers home for the holidays,” de Zegher said in a post on X.
The mobile Megapack Chargers are not a new concept for Tesla. The company first introduced mobile Superchargers powered by Megapacks in 2019, providing much-needed capacity during major events and emergencies. Over the years, Tesla has refined the design, integrating Megapacks, Supercharger cabinets, and stalls into a single trailer-mounted unit. Additionally, the system features solar panels for auxiliary power and Starlink connectivity, ensuring reliable operation even in remote areas.
These mobile units offer a significant advantage over traditional diesel-powered generators often used for temporary power solutions. By leveraging clean energy stored in Megapacks, Tesla is not only addressing congestion but also reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.
