Battery-electric Class 8 semis are unlikely to fully replace their diesel-powered counterparts anytime soon but that's not necessarily the case when it comes to last-mile delivery vehicles, such as FedEx trucks.
XCharge North America and Gateway Fleets have jointly announced the opening of a new charging depot in Riverside, California that aims to provide medium-duty fleets and independent FedEx operators with a local and, most importantly, reliable charging solution
[Related: XCharge, Roady's Truck Stops announce new EV charging partnership]
Gateway, a Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) company, handles the site's overall operations, says the location provides its customers "with reliable, cost-effective charging, and also helps accelerate fleet electrification nationwide."
What's unique about this site is that it doesn't strain the Golden State's already fragile electricity grid because its energy is sourced instead from a battery microgrid.
XCharge's load-management technology, capable of integrating energy storage with rapid charging, is complimented by two dual-dispenser GridLink chargers. These units take in electricity during off-peak hours in order to avoid peak demand charges, and use 430 kWh of stored energy for daytime charging that results in lower overall energy costs.
Gateway claims that its flat-rate EV leasing and dependable infrastructure business model make it possible for operators to lower monthly expenses, avoid peak energy charges, and stay compliant with California's zero-emission vehicle requirements without the need to actually own and/or manage the charging equipment.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) previously passed a statewide mandate calling for 100% zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to be on the road by 2040, though this could change following President Trump's decision earlier this month to revoke waivers granted to California for its Advanced Clean Trucks and low-NOx Omnibus rule on heavy trucks and its future ban on gas-powered cars.
[Related: Trump signs measure officially revoking CARB waivers]
"By transforming these sites into dependable charging hubs, we’re making electrification more practical and cost effective," commented Aatish Patel, co-founder and president of XCharge NA. "XCharge NA is proud to work alongside partners like Gateway Fleets who are pushing the industry forward and realizing the promise of the EV transition for last-mile logistics operators."
