Tesla’s V4 Supercharger: A New Era of Fast Charging
Tesla has finally activated its first full V4 Supercharger station, boasting a 500 kW charging capacity. This marks the end of a three-year rollout of the next-generation chargers.
The Supercharger network remains the best large-scale electric vehicle fast-charging network globally. It excels in scale, usefulness, reliability, and ease of use. While there’s decent competition in Europe and Asia, North America still lacks a close second.
However, Tesla trails behind in charging rate and time. Other networks have achieved and surpassed 350 kW peak charge rates for years. In 2016, Elon Musk claimed that the upcoming V3 Supercharger would exceed 350 kW, calling it a “children’s toy.” Unfortunately, the V3 Supercharger peaked at 250 kW.
The V4 Supercharger rollout was confusing, with Tesla initially deploying only V4 charging stalls, while the power cabinets remained V3. The new stalls featured a longer charging cable, making it easier for non-Tesla vehicles to charge.
The First Full V4 Supercharger
Tesla announced that the first full V4 Supercharger, featuring new cabinets and up to 500 kW charging, would arrive in 2025. The automaker has now confirmed that the station is live in Redwood City, California.
The new V4 Supercharger can charge Tesla’s Cybertruck at a peak rate of 500 kW. A video shared by Tesla showed the Cybertruck charging from nearly empty to 80% in 35 minutes.
Limitations and Future Plans
Currently, only Tesla vehicles can use the new V4 Superchargers, with the Cybertruck being the only model that can take full advantage of the higher charge rate. However, Tesla plans to open the V4 Superchargers to non-Tesla vehicles soon. Many non-Tesla models can benefit from the higher charge rate, making the V4 Supercharger a significant development in the EV charging landscape.
