Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
The newest charging depot in Bakersfield features an MCS fast charging and battery energy storage system
BAKERSFIELD, California – WattEV, a leader in developing charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks and electric trucking, today opened its fourth electric truck charging station in Bakersfield, California.
The WattEV Bakersfield depot will connect the San Joaquin Valley's vast agricultural sector and growing storage complexes to California's seaports and inland destinations. The 119 hectare site is designed, owned and managed by WattEV. This is the world's first electric truck stop with a solar microgrid, battery energy storage system (BESS) and megawatt fast charging system (MCS).
This state-of-the-art station features 16 double-cord 360 kW chargers connected to the mains and 15 single-cord 240 kW CCS chargers, plus three MCS 1,200 kW fast chargers, which draw power from the site's solar panels. Significantly, the MCS chargers will reduce truck charging time from hours to less than 30 minutes, said Salim Youssefzadeh, CEO of WattEV.
“Reducing charging time to less than 30 minutes for a range of 300 miles will be a breakthrough in electric truck adoption,” Youssefzadeh said. “We have developed all our charging facilities to enable the transition from the current CCS charging standard to the new, faster MCS charging, in preparation for this evolution.”
Featuring the distinctive black, green and white “WattEV” branding, the depot is located near the intersection of the busy CA-99 highways at CA-65. It will serve heavy-duty electric trucks with routes connecting the San Joaquin Valley's vast agricultural sector and growing distribution warehouse region to the state's seaports and inland destinations in Southern California and the West.
The WattEV Bakersfield charging depot features amenities such as restrooms and a commercial center with rental space for food and merchandise vendors.
Supporting its mission to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation solutions, this is the third new electric truck charging station WattEV has opened in California in the past month, joining the Port of Long Beach station that opened in July 2023 . Other open locations include San Bernardino and Gardena. All future WattEV depots will include MCS charging.
Over the past three years, WattEV has built the country's first freight corridors for electric vehicle charging with MHD access for the public. This includes large-scale solar charging depots in the permitting phase in Blythe (on Interstate 10) and Sacramento, Gustine and Taft Highway (on Interstate 5), all in California, as well as Salem, Oregon, and Seattle-Tacoma, Washington. (on Interstate 5).
Together with the Bakersfield depot, WattEV is completing the electrification of the CA-99 freight corridor connecting the nation's most productive agricultural region in the San Joaquin Valley to major ports, with additional depots planned in Fresno, Stockton and Oakland.
To help shippers and fleet operators transition to zero-emission trucking, WattEV offers an innovative electric Truck-as-a-Service (TaaS) model that provides fleets or individual operators access to Class 8 battery-electric trucks, reliable maintenance support, insurance and charging via the WattEV network, all at a total operating cost comparable to diesel trucks.
WattEV received approximately $5 million in grant funding from the California Energy Commission to build the WattEV Bakersfield charging depot, with future support from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to expand capacity.
“We appreciate WattEV's leadership in advancing national efforts to deploy the next generation of zero-emission freight infrastructure in the San Joaquin Valley,” said Samir Sheikh, Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer for the Valley Air District. .
“This charging depot is an important milestone for the region and the state as a whole, and is a testament to the Valley Air District's commitment to reducing air pollution, improving public health and supporting the Valley's economy,” said he.
The APCD says mobile emission sources are responsible for the largest source of ozone and PM2.5 forming NOx, toxic diesel particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions in the Valley. Reducing emissions from these mobile sources, which include both heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles, is a critical part of the District's overall strategy to achieve strong, health-based federal air quality standards. With 45% of California's truck traffic occurring in the San Joaquin Valley, projects like these are critical to improving air quality in the region.
Liane Randolph, chair of the California Air Resources Board, reiterated the clean air benefits that WattEV's Bakersfield charging will bring to the San Joaquin Valley.
“With the opening of the latest of four charging depots in California – all located in strategic locations serving the state's freight industry – WattEV is demonstrating the buildout of the infrastructure that will support a zero-emissions future,” Randolph said. “The truck drivers who transport goods across the state will be able to charge quickly, save on fuel costs and contribute to air quality solutions that create healthier communities for all.”
For more information about WattEV, visit www.WattEV.com.
About WattEV: WattEV's mission is to accelerate America's trucking transition to zero emissions. Through a combination of business and technology innovations, WattEV creates charging infrastructure and data-driven workflows, giving truck drivers and fleet operators the lowest total cost of ownership. WattEV's goal is to have 12,000 heavy-duty electric trucks on California roads by 2030, exceeding existing projections. The company wants to have 100 charging stations operational by 2035.
News item from WattEV.
Do you have a tip for CleanTechnica? Do you want to advertise? Would you like to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Latest CleanTechnica.TV Video
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policies here.