In a significant move towards advancing electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, TeraWatt Infrastructure, spearheaded by former Google strategist Neha Palmer, has commenced the construction of a state-of-the-art charging site for EV fleets near Los Angeles Airport. The forthcoming charging park, equipped with 26 DC fast chargers, is scheduled to be operational by the upcoming year.
TeraWatt Infrastructure, the proprietor of the site, will assume the responsibility of operating and maintaining the charging infrastructure. Remarkably, the company’s statement alludes to the potential inclusion of multiple tenants, suggesting that the Inglewood location could be exclusively reserved for fleet clients.
Evidencing the commitment to fostering sustainable transportation, the project secured a noteworthy $1.9 million grant from the California Energy Commission. The grant’s objective is to bolster the electrification of ride-hail services in the vicinity of the bustling Los Angeles Airport (LAX) region.
Situated merely three miles from the bustling LAX area, the Inglewood site strategically addresses the transportation needs of the high-traffic region.
With the propulsion towards zero-emission vehicles gathering momentum, TeraWatt is poised to offer heightened charging reliability. This development aligns with the forthcoming implementation of California’s Advanced Clean Vehicle Act, slated for the following year. The legislation mandates that all new light-duty passenger vehicle sales in California must be zero emission by 2035. The Act further introduces sales quotas, intensifying the urgency to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the lead-up to 2035.
Patty Monahan, a Commissioner at the California Energy Commission, expressed pride in supporting the project, emphasizing its role in encouraging rideshare fleets to transition to electrification. Monahan also noted that this initiative aligns with the Governor’s ambitious vision of entirely transitioning light-duty vehicles to zero-emission status by 2035.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. extended a warm welcome to TeraWatt, commending the company for its environmental partnership with the “City of Champions.”
CEO and co-founder of TeraWatt, Neha Palmer, underscored the company’s commitment to offering a seamless charging solution encompassing both infrastructure and services. Palmer highlighted the acceleration of electrification efforts, not solely among consumers, but also within fleets transitioning to a zero-emission paradigm. The Inglewood charging site stands as the inaugural step in a series of infrastructure expansions aimed at facilitating businesses in adopting sustainable transportation strategies.
Palmer, leveraging her previous role as a strategist powering Google’s global data centers, founded TeraWatt in May 2021. Guided by her expertise, the core strategy of TeraWatt involves early-stage development and active collaboration with utilities from the project’s inception. Palmer emphasized the necessity for cohesive collaboration among various stakeholders, including grid owners, operators, utilities, regulators, and end-users, to ensure the seamless evolution of the grid alongside the shift towards electric transportation.
Notably, TeraWatt secured a substantial investment of over one billion dollars in September 2022, primarily from undisclosed backers.
With a portfolio encompassing approximately 20 sites, TeraWatt’s most prominent undertaking, announced in the preceding October, involves the establishment of a truck charging corridor along the Interstate 10 highway. Spanning from the Port of Long Beach, California, to El Paso, Texas, this ambitious project will see the installation of TeraWatt Charging Centers across California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
