Big Rig Electric Charging Rolls Out in South El Monte

SCE joins Schneider to develop a 4,900-square-foot, state-of-the-art electric truck charging hub with infrastructure for Class 8 trucks.
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Stories : The Grid
Stories : The Grid

Big Rig Electric Charging Rolls Out in South El Monte

SCE joins Schneider to develop a 4,900-square-foot, state-of-the-art electric truck charging hub with infrastructure for Class 8 trucks.
Contributors
Photo Credit: Jim Hanggi and Mike Carano

Delivery hauling in and around metro Los Angeles is getting cleaner as more heavy-duty truck fleets expand their use of electric charging.

Schneider National, Inc. recently announced the official opening of an electric charging depot for its heavy-duty, battery-electric truck fleet in South El Monte. The depot will charge Schneider’s zero-emission Freightliner eCascadia trucks through 16 freshly completed dual-corded chargers.

“Over 100 years ago, this area of Durfee Avenue was once home to oil derricks and is now the location of a major Class 8 battery-electric truck deployment facility,” said Mark Rourke, Schneider’s president and CEO, at a recent charging depot ribbon-cutting event. “Sixteen charging stations, allowing us to charge up to 32 trucks simultaneously.”

Through its Charge Ready Transport Program, SCE helped Schneider and its partners navigate the complexities associated with medium- and heavy-duty charging infrastructure projects.
Through its Charge Ready Transport Program, SCE helped Schneider and its partners navigate the complexities associated with medium- and heavy-duty charging infrastructure projects. PHOTO CREDIT: Jim Hanggi

Funding for 50 of Schneider's electric trucks is part of the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative. JETSI is the first battery-electric truck project jointly funded by the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission, which together awarded the project $27 million. Additional funding was provided by South Coast Air Quality Management District, Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, the San Pedro Bay Ports and Southern California Edison.

The JETSI project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.

SCE worked closely with Schneider and its construction partners as the site moved from a gravel-and-dirt parking lot to a 4,900-square-foot, state-of-the-art electric truck charging hub with infrastructure for Class 8 trucks.

SCE worked closely with Schneider and its construction partners as the site moved from a gravel-and-dirt parking lot to a 4,900-square-foot, state-of-the-art electric truck charging hub.
SCE worked closely with Schneider and its construction partners as the site moved from a gravel-and-dirt parking lot to a 4,900-square-foot, state-of-the-art electric truck charging hub. PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Carano

Every EV infrastructure project is a major construction project. Through its Charge Ready Transport Program, SCE helped Schneider and its partners navigate the complexities associated with medium- and heavy-duty charging infrastructure from the project’s inception through its preliminary and final designs, permit requests and civil work (digging/trenching). Along the way, the SCE team identified the necessary distribution upgrades and built the charging infrastructure to support Schneider's deployment. The team also advised how best to configure the location of charging stations on the site.

“Schneider's JETSI project is a great example of utilities collaborating with companies committing to fleet electrification that will benefit environmentally impacted communities near highways, warehouses and intermodal rail yards,” said Chanel Parson, SCE director of electrification.

SCE’s Charge Ready Transport Program allows businesses to install the infrastructure to support a fleet of medium- and heavy-duty EVs at low or no cost. This program, which helps fleet owners pay for EV charging infrastructure, offers customers significant construction and logistical support as well.

Schneider National's new electric charging depot in South El Monte has 16 dual-corded charging stations allowing up to 32 trucks to plug-in simultaneously.
Schneider National's new electric charging depot in South El Monte has 16 dual-corded charging stations allowing up to 32 trucks to plug-in simultaneously. PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Carano

In the Charge Ready Transport Program model, SCE designs, installs, maintains and covers installation costs for the utility and customer-side distribution charging infrastructure. At the same time, participants own and operate the charging stations. Through the program, SCE aims to support the electrification of nearly 8,500 medium- and heavy-duty EVs.

“As companies begin thinking about electrifying their fleet, it is important that they see SCE as a partner and engage with us early. Our team is here to help guide companies through every step of the process and ensure their business is set up for success,” said Parson.

Schneider plans to have about 100 Freightliner eCascadias for its Southern California intermodal operations by the end of the year.

Visit SCE's Charge Ready Transport Program to learn more.