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Tesla Megachargers arrive at Frito-Lay facility ahead of January Semi deliveries

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Tesla Megachargers arrive at Frito-Lay facility ahead of January Semi deliveries-Drive Tesla Canada


Tesla Megachargers arrive at Frito-Lay facility ahead of January Semi deliveries​

January 6, 2022 Darryn John
Modesto Megacharger


The first Tesla Megachargers have arrived at Frito-Lay’s facility in Modesto, California, just in time for the first Tesla Semis to be delivered to PepsiCo later this month.

We first learned this facility was going to be receiving Megachargers when permit applications for their installation were uncovered in May last year.

In November the permit was finally issued, with Tesla beginning construction just a few weeks later.

Another big step in the construction process took place today with the unboxing of the first Megachargers.

In photos taken this afternoon and provided exclusively to Drive Tesla by one of our readers Ben Blackburn, we can see one Megacharger out in the open ready to be installed, with another two still in their packaging.

Modesto Megacharger
All of the electrical appears to have been completed, with a bank of 8 Green Line High Efficiency Transformers, Megacharger boxes, and control/breaker cabinets for the system already installed.

A large Megapack battery storage system has also been installed.

Modesto December 7
Modesto December 4
Modesto December 5
Based on the configuration of the Giga Nevada Megachargers, it looks like this one will have 4 stalls once the work has been completed.

Tesla Megacharger Power Output​

Tesla has previously said the Megachargers will deliver peak rates of up to 1 megawatt (MW). In what is becoming a familiar pattern, the automaker seems to have sandbagged that estimate.

According to information provided to Drive Tesla, the Megachargers will actually charge at up 1.5MW, 50% higher than originally anticipated.

Delivering that much power generates a lot of heat, so in order to keep things manageable the system will use new immersion cooling technology, the exact details of which couldn’t be shared at this time.

PepsiCo Tesla Semi Deliveries​

PepsiCo surprised everyone with a press release in March 2021 saying they were going be taking delivery of 15 Tesla Semis before the end of the year.

Then in November PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta reiterated the position, even though Tesla had said production of the Semi had been delayed until 2023 due to supply constraints.

After receiving these photos we were able to confirm with one of our sources that PepsiCo has been told to expect to receive all 15 Tesla Semis before the end of January.

Tesla has been manufacturing them since early December at Giga Nevada. Two brand new Semis were spotted outside the factory this week.
 
If they are building the battery packs for the semi then the Cybertruck shouldn't be far behind
The issue is not the vehicles it is the ability to manufacture the 4680s. Currently they can only manufacture sufficient 4680s for about one semi per week. What is causing the production delay on 4680s? Don't know. When will the issue be solved? Don't know. But until then semis and cybertrucks and roadsters will be delayed and slowed.
 

Not specifically of the plug but you can see the handle. A little bigger than the existing one but not huge.
That article from InsideEVs is probably a little off-base. It, and a previous September article that it links to, are hung up on the original CharIN requirements which were modified along the way during the actual design of Megawatt Charging System. The article says the upper voltage peak is 1.250V at 3,000A but when I was looking into this months ago I recall that it was actually 1,500V at 3,000A. That article also says the plug will be compatible with the existing CCS Type 1 and Type 2 plugs and thus there would have to be two MCS plugs designs. I think that’s wrong — the design committee gave up on that “requirement” and went with a completely new plug design based on a design mostly developed by Tesla (which was a member of the design committee). The final new MCS plug design is different and incompatible with the earlier prototype Tesla Semi plug.

Anyway, I assume we will soon be seeing the actual plug design since they can’t keep it secret much longer.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: Lindenwood
Where are they going to service these truck? Are they building service centers just for the semi? Service centers that are always busy with lots of cars may not have room for the semis
Not too much service required for an electric. Tesla cars don't need service, either, so these "service centers" you cite won't be overcrowded. This is exactly why Pepsi wants these trucks... to get out of the huge cost of servicing diesel trucks.
 
As far as whether any semis were delivered, that isn’t what this thread is about.
Yes, it IS what this thread is about. This thread is about two specific things: the installation of the chargers and the deliveries of the trucks. There is a whole titled section in the original post about the trucks, and the delivery dates in January were spelled out twice directly in the article this thread started with:

"just in time for the first Tesla Semis to be delivered to PepsiCo later this month."

"After receiving these photos we were able to confirm with one of our sources that PepsiCo has been told to expect to receive all 15 Tesla Semis before the end of January."

Why are you trying to dismiss or deflect this very valid question? I have been wondering about it too.