Skycharger, a leading provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, has announced plans to build two public charging hubs for electric trucks in Southern California. The initiative is backed by a $10 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and will be located in Kettleman City and Lebec, CA, along the busy Interstate 5 corridor.
The two new charging hubs will feature charging stations capable of delivering at least 200 kW of power and will accommodate up to 64 electric trucks at once. To minimize the environmental impact and enhance operational reliability, each site will be powered by 5.1 MW of solar energy and will include an 8 MWh battery energy storage system. The combination of solar power and battery storage aims to reduce strain on the local grid while ensuring continuous operation, even during peak demand periods.
Andy Karetsky, President of Skycharger, expressed gratitude for the support provided by the state, stating, “We are grateful to the California Energy Commission and the State of California for their unwavering support for transportation electrification, including heavy-duty trucks. Electric trucks mean cleaner air, less noise, lower operating costs, and abundant benefits for workers and communities wherever trucks travel and charge. The future is still electric.”
In addition to these two new locations, Skycharger has been tasked with building a 70-port electric truck charging hub at the Port of San Diego. This facility will also incorporate solar energy and battery storage, with a 1.75 MW solar array and 5 MWh of energy storage to further support the electrification of heavy-duty transport in the region.
Skycharger’s efforts align with California’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which mandates a phased transition to zero-emission trucks. Although no specific opening dates have been confirmed, the company has stated that construction on the new charging hubs will begin in 2025, with operations expected to commence by early 2026. The project is anticipated to create over 90 high-paying jobs in the region, contributing to local economic growth and sustainable transportation initiatives.