Prologis and Performance Team, a Maersk Company, have launched a heavy-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging depot near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, powered by one of the nation's largest EV truck microgrids.
The Denker charging depot will be able to charge up to 96 EV trucks simultaneously. Performance Team will use its fleet of Volvo VNR Electric trucks, which have a range of 240 miles and a charging potential of up to 80% in 90 minutes.
In total, Prologis and Performance Team constructed the facility in just five months.
“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,” said Charles van der Steene, Regional President for Maersk North America.
During the development of the Denker charging depot, Prologis was responsible for installing the charging infrastructure. To speed up project completion time, rather than waiting up to two years for the required grid upgrades, Prologis worked with Mainspring Energy to build a microgrid onsite that can either be grid-connected or operate 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.
Prologis and Performance Team officials said that the project delivery was accelerated due to a 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, which powered the microgrid with natural gas.
"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."
The charging depot is the third Southern California commercial truck EV charging project opened together by Prologis Mobility and Performance Team.