WattEV has announced the purchase of 370 Tesla Semis, Tesla’s largest public purchase of the Semi to date, valued at approximately $100 million.
This comes on the heels of other recent major orders, including one from Forum Mobility this week and one from Alyath late last month.
Charging Infrastructure
One of the largest barriers preventing widespread adoption of electric Class 8 vehicles is the lack of reliable, high-capacity charging infrastructure.
Alongside the deployment of the 370 Semis (battery sizes revealed), WattEV is building dedicated MCS charging hubs across critical California freight corridors, including Oakland, Fresno, Stockton, and Sacramento.
These stations will be equipped with Tesla’s Megawatt Charging System hardware. These Megawatt Chargers can replenish 300 miles of range in just 30 minutes, matching the turnaround time of a conventional diesel fill-up.
For fleet operators, that means comparable downtime for refueling and recharging at a truck stop, without needing to alter schedules or plan new routes to accommodate.
Making the Transition Easy
A $100 million capital expenditure is not a small drop in the bucket, especially for independent carriers. WattEV’s model will allow smaller logistics companies to obtain a full-service lease, similar to those offered by Forum Mobility and Alyath.
By bundling the vehicle, access to charging infrastructure, and leasing into a single package, WattEV is offering companies the ability to lower costs and reduce risk, especially if they’re unsure about the transition to electrified semis. Operators can simply contract the hardware they need to move goods, leaving the burdens of grid interconnection and high-voltage maintenance to WattEV.
Tesla Semi Wins Against Competitors
WattEV Chief Executive Officer Salim Youssefzadeh revealed at the annual ACT Expo trade show in Las Vegas that Tesla secured the order through a public request for proposals. Tesla ultimately won the contract based on three critical metrics: cost, performance, and availability.
The mention of availability is particularly notable. With the Tesla Semi now successfully entering mass production and receiving highly favorable reviews from fleet operators nationwide, it has already distanced itself from legacy competitors.
Many traditional manufacturers offer electric Class 8 alternatives, but very few can produce the volume needed to fulfill a 370-unit order within a reasonable timeframe.
First EV-Ready Port in Oakland
More than 300 of the acquired Tesla Semis are slated for deployment under a joint program specifically focused on the Port of Oakland. Maritime freight corridors have been challenging for EV deployment due to the constant, high-volume flow of trucks moving in and out of dockyards and into faraway warehouses.
The delivery of the first 50 Tesla Semis is scheduled for 2026, timed to coincide with the planned opening of WattEV’s charging stations at the Port of Oakland and in Fresno.
Additional depot locations are scheduled to open in Stockton this year, while the Sacramento facility will officially break ground in 2026. The remaining units of the 370-vehicle fleet will be fully delivered by the end of 2027.
