Tesla has introduced a new Supercharger unit called the 'accordion' that is pre-assembled at the factory to reduce on-site installation time. In Germany, the first Supercharger site using the method has already begun operating.

InsideEVs, an electric-vehicle publication, reported on Sept. 16 that the accordion Supercharger bundles 8 chargers, a V4 power cabinet and cable wiring into a single pre-assembled package. Tesla presented it as a solution that can be built faster and more cheaply than existing installation methods. One truck can carry 2 sets, allowing transport of up to 16 chargers at a time. It is designed to be unloaded by forklift and placed immediately on site.

The unit targets sites where parking bay lines are already marked. Tesla said the solution is designed for "sites where parking spaces are already marked," cuts costs by 20 percent versus existing installation and can be activated immediately. The chargers, grouped in pairs, are assembled at the factory with a concrete foundation.

Charging performance also matches the latest V4 hardware. A combination of V4 dispensers and V4 power cabinets can deliver up to 500 kW per vehicle. The power cabinet has capacity of up to 1.2 MW. As electric vehicles with high power demand increase in the European and U.S. markets, Tesla appears to be accelerating expansion of V4 Superchargers and power equipment.

The exact location of the first installation site has not been officially disclosed. The equipment was spotted at an FC Bayern store site in Irschenberg, Germany. The charging station is next to 2 fast-food restaurants and has been operating since last month, based on user photos posted on Google Maps.

The product extends Tesla's recent push to expand modular charging infrastructure. The accordion Supercharger has almost the same hardware configuration as the 'folding unit' Supercharger introduced in the United States earlier this year. Both products use the same electrical components, but the folding unit uses a foldable metal base, while the accordion groups chargers in pairs for placement.

Tesla's focus is shifting not only to improving charger performance but also to simplifying installation processes. By reducing on-site construction and improving transport and placement efficiency, it can accelerate the rollout of new charging stations. In particular, at commercial sites where parking bays are already laid out, such integrated structures are increasingly likely to be used as a way to expand capacity quickly.