World’s largest carriers launch heavy-duty EV charging pilot
Smart Freight Centre, the international non-profit group aiming to reduce the emission impacts of global freight transportation, have launched a coalition aiming to pilot heavy-duty EV charging along the 830 mile I-10, from the Port of Long Beach in Los Angeles to El Paso, Texas.
The coalition consists of some of the world’s largest shippers and carriers, including Microsoft, Maersk, AIT Worldwide Logistics, DB Schenker, and PepsiCo, who will test long-haul heavy-duty battery-electric vehicle operations along the I-10 corridor.
TeraWatt Infrastructure will serve as the strategic charging solutions partner for the project, providing infrastructure, including software, operations, and maintenance support, at six of its owned charging hubs along the I-10 corridor.
TeraWatt announced plans to build a heavy-duty shared EV charging infrastructure along the I-10 corridor in 2022, in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Earlier this year they were selected to receive $63.8 million in federal grant funding via the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant.
Neha Palmer, CEO and Co-Founder of TeraWatt said: ‘ This project represents more than a pilot for heavy-duty EV operations; it puts forward a concrete roadmap to scaling fleet electrification into a full ecosystem. As we continue to build out the I-10 electric corridor and utilize the recent $63.8M in grant funding alongside NMDOT to develop reliable charging infrastructure solutions, we have a historic opportunity to work with global leaders who share our vision and investment into the sustainable future of mobility.’
The coalition aims to demonstrate the possibilities for fleet emissions reduction, while accelerating long-haul EV deployment and cost parity. The pilot also aims to convince other shippers and carriers to embark of the viability in transitioning their fleets to electric and encourage technology providers to accelerate development of solutions for electric transport.
The launch of this coalition also aligns with the U.S. government’s National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy, which lays out a framework for zero-emission truck adoption and prioritises investments, planning, and deployment for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fueling infrastructure.
Cliff Henson, Corporate Vice President of the Microsoft Cloud Supply Chain. said: ‘This collaborative coalition is an important step in advancing electric-powered, heavy-duty fleet transport. As Microsoft works toward our ambitious carbon-neutral goals, implementing a sustainable logistics framework is a critical factor. The I-10 corridor pilot is a key part of building this framework, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of an electric-powered evolution in logistics.’
Charles van der Steene, Regional President for Maersk North America added: ‘To electrify trucking on a meaningful scale, all stakeholders need to invest in expanding the electric grid for charging capabilities. With our ambition to reach net zero by 2040, we’re committed to being part of collaborative efforts like these, which help move us toward our goal and allow us to offer customers a pathway toward a decarbonized alternative for trucking.’
Christoph Wolff, CEO of the Smart Freight Centre said: ‘Truck electrification is one of the most impactful strategies to decarbonize logistics. Leading governments are setting clear regulatory standards that will accelerate zero-emission trucks, in particular in Europe and the U.S., spearheaded by California and other progressive states. Through this coalition, we seek to jointly accelerate the uptake of long-haul EV heavy-duty trucks. Together with Terawatt and other coalition partners, we look forward to accelerating freight decarbonization and proving that the electric truck corridor can promptly become operational at low volumes, and rapidly scale up afterwards.’
