Tesla Announces V4 Superchargers Coming in 2025
Tesla says its next big improvement to public DC fast charging is imminent. While the company has been installing what it called Supercharger V4s for two years now, those were only half of the hardware necessary to realize the full potential of the technology; what Tesla has been building is the chargers themselves, which the company calls “posts.” But the chargers feed juice to cars through the so-called cabinet, which is where the electronic controls to power the facility live.
Related: What a Week Commuting in a Tesla Model Y Looks Like
The new V4 cabinet can output up to 500 kilowatts, an improvement of 150 kW over the most powerful DC fast chargers in operation today. Should Tesla’s Semi ever enter widespread commercial use, the V4 cabinet will be able to supply 1.2 megawatts to them (a megawatt is 1,000 kW).
Up to 1,000-Volt Support
The V4 Cabinet can support vehicle architectures from 400 to 1,000 volts. Higher-voltage systems are more efficient, charge faster and can utilize smaller, lighter components. Most EVs built today use 400-volt architecture, but brands including Hyundai, Kia, Audi and Porsche are already selling 800-volt EVs, and the Lucid Air’s 900-volt system plays a central role in its market-leading range. Tesla says the 800-volt Cybertruck pickup will charge some 30% faster with a V4 cabinet.
As public-charging infrastructure races to catch up to EV demand, the V4 cabinet’s other benefit is just as important as charging speed: It can power twice as many charging stalls as the current unit. Tesla also says the V4 is “designed to be the most reliable [cabinet] on the planet.” With many EV owners experiencing public-charging frustrations over down chargers, minimizing downtime is also critical for getting infrastructure up to speed.
Tesla says it is securing the necessary permits for its first V4 cabinet installations now. The sites are expected to be online in 2025.
More From Cars.com:
- When Will All Fast-Charging Stations Be Open to All EVs?
- 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Deliveries Begin, More Specs and Estimated Pricing Revealed
- Living Without a Home Charger With the Tesla Model Y
- How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?
- More Electric Car News
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
