Tesla Supercharger under construction in Wellton expands Yuma County EV charging

A new 12-stall Tesla Supercharger rated at 325 kW is under construction in Wellton, giving Yuma County another fast-charging stop on Interstate 8 and strengthening a corridor that already serves drivers moving between Yuma, Dateland and Tacna. The site sits at a Chevron gas station and fills a gap on a stretch of highway where long-distance travelers and local EV owners depend on reliable charging to keep trips moving.

For Wellton, the impact goes beyond another EV amenity. A Supercharger on the I-8 corridor can draw drivers off the interstate and into nearby businesses while they wait, from fuel and food stops to convenience purchases that follow a charging session. In a town where highway traffic matters, a high-speed charger at a gas station can turn a brief stop into a broader customer visit, especially for motorists planning their route around charging access.

The Wellton project also fits into Arizona’s larger fast-charging buildout. The Arizona Department of Transportation says the state is set to receive $76.5 million in federal NEVI funding over five years to establish up to 69 publicly accessible charging stations. Under those rules, stations generally must be no more than 50 miles apart, no farther than 25 miles from corridor borders and within one mile of the highway, a formula meant to close gaps on interstate routes and make long drives more predictable for EV users.

ADOT said the first 18 stations were conditionally awarded in late 2024, with construction expected to begin in early 2026. The agency later advertised a second phase of 31 new locations in October 2025, with bids due January 16, 2026 and construction expected to begin in 2027 and take about a year. That timeline shows how quickly Arizona’s corridor network is expanding, especially along highways that connect smaller communities like Wellton to larger travel hubs.

Tesla says its Supercharger network is built for route-based charging, with the Tesla app showing stall availability and charging status for trip planning. On I-8, where drivers already rely on charging options in Yuma, Dateland and Tacna, the Wellton station adds another visible stop on a heavily traveled desert corridor. For east Yuma County, it is also a sign that the highway economy is still attracting investment where long-distance reliability and local access intersect.