New Developments in Truck Fleet EV Charging Infrastructure

Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is rapidly evolving to support the growing demand for clean transportation. In recent announcements, ChargePoint, Maersk, Prologis, and LG have unveiled significant advancements that promise to make an impact on how fleets recharge.

Here are the latest updates you need to know:

ChargePoint Unveils Three Megawatt Charging Architecture

ChargePoint took a major step toward electrifying the trucking industry introducing its Megawatt Charging System (MCS). This new technology, capable of dispensing energy equivalent to powering approximately 1,000 homes, is designed to support the electrification of large-scale commercial trucking.

“Megawatt technology is the first step toward electrifying the commercial trucking industry,” said Hossein Kazemi, CTO for Hardware at ChargePoint. “This infrastructure will enable electric trucks to achieve distances comparable to those covered by internal combustion vehicles.”

The MCS cable and connector will initially deliver up to 1.2 megawatts and is expected to support up to 3 megawatts in the future, making it suitable for marine and aviation applications as well. This technology is crucial for reducing the transportation sector's significant greenhouse gas emissions, which currently exceed 400 million metric tons annually in the U.S.

LG and ChargePoint Partner to Innovate EV Charging Solutions

ChargePoint has partnered with LG Electronics to integrate ChargePoint’s charger management software with LG’s advanced EV charging hardware. This collaboration aims to deliver commercial charging solutions, with the first products expected to be available later this summer.

“Together, we will develop market-leading EV charging solutions,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “Our combined engineering expertise will enable a world-class charging experience for all EV drivers.”

The partnership will explore various areas of collaboration, including integrating LG’s energy storage systems with ChargePoint’s residential chargers and leveraging LG’s digital advertising platforms. This strategic alliance not only enhances LG’s position in the EV charger market but also supports ChargePoint’s expansive network, providing high-quality charging solutions for various use cases.

The companies said future areas of collaboration may include:

• Combining ChargePoint EV charging solutions with LG energy storage systems.
• Integration of the LG ThinQ smart home platform with ChargePoint’s award-winning Home Flex residential charger.
• Chargers that leverage LG’s digital-out-of-home advertising platform.

Performance Team and Prologis Launch EV Truck Charging Depot

Prologis and Performance Team – A Maersk Company have launched Southern California's largest heavy-duty EV charging depot, powered by the nation's largest EV truck microgrid. Located near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, this 9 MW depot can charge up to 96 heavy-duty trucks simultaneously.

“It is our ambition to drive the industry shift toward decarbonized supply chains,” said Charles van der Steene, Regional President for Maersk North America. “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.”

The project overcame significant energy supply challenges by using an innovative microgrid solution developed in partnership with Mainspring Energy. This solution allows the depot to operate independently of the local grid, providing a much-needed boost to California's clean transportation infrastructure amid stringent state mandates for electric truck adoption by 2035.