Pilot's first Tesla Megacharger opens in Georgia; a dozen more on the way

Pilot opened its first Tesla Megacharger site on Oct. 8 at Pilot #1390, 130 Interstate Exchange Way in Ellabell, Georgia, according to CDLLife on Oct. 8.

The Ellabell site features six heavy-duty charging stalls delivering 1.2 megawatts of power each — enough for a Tesla Semi to recover 60% of its charge in 30 minutes, the companies said. Twelve additional heavy-duty charging locations are under construction, with three nearing completion: Flying J #1071 at 979 E. Paige Ave. in Tulare, California, which opens Oct. 9; Flying J #553 at 2571 N. Front St. in Fort Stockton, Texas; and Pilot #341 at 3812 E. Craig Road in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

The sites are part of a Pilot–Tesla partnership building a heavy-duty charging network along I-5, I-10, and other major freight corridors across California, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, and Texas. "Pilot is proud to bring heavy-duty charging directly to key trucking routes and pair it with the services and amenities drivers rely on," said Shannon Sturgil, senior vice president of alternative fuels at Pilot — framing the buildout as making fleet electrification a more accessible option for long-haul transportation.