A new electric vehicle (EV) truck charging depot launched in May in Los Angeles is the product of an innovative public-private partnership between Prologis, Inc., Performance Team — A Maersk Company and local utility companies.
The charging depot, Southern California’s largest for heavy-duty EVs, is located near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and powered by the nation’s largest EV truck microgrid, powered with natural gas from Southern California Gas Co.
Located directly off the Harbor (110) Freeway in Los Angeles on Denker Avenue, and within five miles of Interstate 405 and California State Route 91 (SR91), the 9 megawatt (MW) Denker charging depot can charge up to 96 EV trucks at the same time.
Prologis and Performance Team built the facility in just five months. Performance Team will be using its fleet of Volvo VNR Electric trucks, which have a range of 240 miles and can charge up to 80% in 90 minutes.
“It is our ambition to drive the industry shift toward decarbonized supply chains,” said Charles van der Steene, regional president for Maersk North America. “Expanding the charging infrastructure for commercial electric vehicles is a key part of that. This facility strengthens our ability to offer customers a decarbonized alternative to conventional trucking and brings us closer to our goal of reaching net zero by 2040.”
“We’re delighted to collaborate with Maersk on this important and innovative new commercial truck charging facility,” said Henrik Holland, global head of Prologis Mobility. “To bring the depot online quickly, we delivered an innovative on-demand charging solution as an interim power connection measure. The transition to zero emissions is a priority for both companies, and we’re proud to be on this journey together.”
Innovation Overcomes Energy Supply Hurdles
California requires an end to the sale of diesel trucks and a move to electric drayage trucks by 2035 and electric heavy-duty trucks by 2045. This project is a key connector in the infrastructure needed to meet the state’s goals.
While utilities work to upgrade the electrical grid, companies like Prologis and Maersk are investing heavily in California to find innovative and creative solutions that get EV trucks on the road immediately.
In developing the Denker charging depot, Prologis installed the charging infrastructure to help speed the time the project could get online and trucks could get on the road, rather than waiting up to two years for the grid upgrade.
Prologis developed an innovative charging solution, in conjunction with Mainspring Energy, to build a microgrid, which is any small network of electrical generators and loads that may be grid-connected but is capable of operating independently of the local grid.
The Prologis Denker microgrid uses 2.75 MW of fuel-flexible, hydrogen-ready linear generators paired with 18 MWh of batteries to provide up to 9 MW of charging capacity.
Public-Private Partnerships Make Difference
“The future of heavy-duty trucking is pollution-free, and companies in California are leading the way,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “This public-private partnership to create California’s largest electric truck charging depot will reduce pollution and speed the adoption of electric trucks. In doing so, it helps to build energy independence for our transportation sector. This project is a big step forward and a win-win for our environment and economy.”
With 20,000 trucks serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, it will take continued collaboration between government, regulators and private industry to build the infrastructure and equipment necessary to support the trucking industry’s transition.
Prologis and Performance Team officials said the project delivery was expedited thanks to a strong partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which enabled long-term design and planning, the city of Los Angeles, which permitted the project, and Southern California Gas Co., which powered the microgrid with natural gas.
The Denker charging depot is the third Southern California commercial truck EV charging project Prologis Mobility and Performance Team have opened together. Performance Team facilities in Santa Fe Springs and Commerce, equipped with Prologis Mobility charging infrastructure, provide 4 MW of charging capacity — enough to charge 38 electric trucks.
