Elon Musk is seeking a hefty $100 million from the U.S. government to support a bold new initiative.

Tesla, the pioneering electric vehicle manufacturer, is pursuing funding to establish a network of cutting-edge Megacharging stations along the route between California and Texas, dedicated to powering its revolutionary all-electric semi-truck, aptly named the Semi.

Reports from CleanTechnica and Bloomberg reveal that Tesla’s proposal outlines the construction of nine strategically located charging stations spanning the stretch between Northern California and the southern Texas border. Each of these stations is set to feature an impressive array of eight individual 750-kilowatt chargers, enabling up to eight Semis to charge simultaneously at each of these facilities.

Official requests

Tesla is also rallying Texas state officials to advocate for their cause by sending official requests to the federal government to secure the necessary funding. This initiative comes in the wake of the Semi’s debut in 2022, following its 2017 prototype unveiling, with PepsiCo being among the early adopters, receiving 15 of these groundbreaking vehicles.

The significance of the Semi lies in its distinction as the first all-electric sixteen-wheeler to enter the market. This development aligns with the global imperative to combat climate change by adopting cleaner energy solutions for industrial shipping. Trucks, as highlighted by the Environmental Protection Agency, have become the fastest-growing source of hazardous air pollution in the United States, necessitating a transition to cleaner alternatives.

With millions of tons of goods transported daily, largely reliant on fossil fuels, the Tesla Semi represents a transformative step towards reducing pollution and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

While the approval of Tesla’s funding request is anticipated later this year, the company’s commitment to this eco-friendly endeavor remains resolute, even if the government’s support is not secured.