Tesla wins historic order: 370 electric trucks for California
Imagine a fleet of trucks that seems like a science fiction project, but is now about to flood the roads of California. Tesla, the brand that believes the future is 100% electric, has just placed a giant piece on this board.
With a deal valued at 85 million euros, the company WattEV has laid the first stone to electrify the goods moved between ports and warehouses, all with 370 Tesla Semis, a truck that has promised for years but is now beginning to materialize on a large scale.
Tesla Semi: from promise to protagonist of heavy mobility
The Tesla Semi, which was announced in 2017 and has been plagued by delays and very limited production, has entered a new phase after the first unit rolled off the production line in Nevada. WattEV not only buys trucks; it also deploys charging infrastructure and offers leasing services, a move aimed at overcoming the biggest obstacle to electric transport: the initial investment.
The first 50 units will arrive in 2026 and the full fleet will be operational before the end of 2027. Many of these Tesla Semis will work alongside the Port of Oakland to electrify loading operations and regional routes, where the electric truck can shine due to its range and ease of planning recharging.
Infrastructure and strategy at the service of mobility
WattEV is opening charging stations at key points such as the Port of Oakland and Fresno, with Tesla Megawatt Charging System chargers that promise up to 480 km of range in 30 minutes of charging. These bases will be complemented with new centers in Stockton and Sacramento, forming electric corridors connecting northern and central California.
The company already operates six depots throughout the southern region and plans to expand with 15 more locations, aiming for freight transport to leave diesel behind in favor of a cleaner and more profitable alternative.
A truck chosen for performance and economy
Salim Youssefzadeh, CEO of WattEV, explained that the Tesla Semi was chosen after a public tender. The decision was based on cost, performance, and availability, making it clear that the Tesla truck is not just a technological toy, but a solid bet for a transport company that wants to electrify without exaggerated risks.
The Tesla Semi has a range of up to 805 km in the Long Range version, can consume only 1.7 kWh per mile, and offers power of up to 1.2 MW, with the capacity to charge a good number of kilometers in under an hour. But the toughest test is to prove whether Tesla can maintain production and reliability in this new phase.
The economic and environmental challenge of the electric truck
Transforming heavy transport costs
WattEV argues that the combination of this fleet with lower energy costs can revolutionize the transport industry during this decade. The price of diesel remains a key factor, but for the first time, a company claims that its electric proposal can outperform it economically for specific uses.
Electric trucks can change the cost structure, especially on regional routes and repetitive operations where recharging and maintenance can be precisely planned.
A model that must be tested on a large scale
The 370 trucks that WattEV has ordered represent a trial by fire for Tesla. The Semi must not only demonstrate range and acceleration but also reliability, availability, and realistic operating costs in a large and demanding fleet.
The port of California, one of the strictest in environmental regulations, will be the battleground where the electric truck must prove it can replace the diesel fleet and help improve air quality in areas with intense freight traffic.
The new era of the Tesla Semi and clean transport in California
A leap forward for Tesla and WattEV
With this deal, Tesla moves from having an anticipated but limited product to starring in a real and massive industrial project. WattEV provides not only trucks but a support network facilitating the transition to more sustainable transport.
California takes the lead in the electrification of heavy transport, betting on infrastructure that could become a model for the rest of the United States.
The future of freight transport
With 370 units on the way, the Tesla Semi begins to secure its place on the road. The model leaves behind its promise status and faces the harsh daily reality. The project launched by WattEV could mark a before and after for electric mobility in the logistics sector.
Freight transport is one of the main contributors to pollution in urban and port areas. This massive move toward electric trucks is not only a technological bet but an urgent necessity to improve quality of life and adapt to stricter regulations.
With the support of investment and necessary infrastructure, the Tesla Semi now has the opportunity to establish itself as the benchmark for electric heavy transport. The challenge is on the asphalt and the eyes are on California, which could end up being the laboratory where the future of sustainable transport is decided.
