In a significant advancement for California’s clean transportation infrastructure, Prologis, a global leader in logistics real estate and Performance Team – A Maersk Company, announced the launch of Southern California’s largest heavy-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging depot.
Located near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, this facility is powered by the nation’s largest EV truck microgrid.
Situated directly off the Harbor (110) Freeway in Los Angeles on Denker Avenue, and within five miles of Interstate 405 and California State Route 91 (SR91), the Denker charging depot can simultaneously charge up to 96 EV trucks.
In addition, Prologis and Performance Team constructed the facility in just five months. Performance Team will utilize its fleet of Volvo VNR Electric trucks, which have a range of 240 miles and can charge up to 80% in 90 minutes.
“We’re delighted to collaborate with Maersk on this important and innovative new commercial truck charging facility. To bring the depot online quickly, we delivered an innovative on-demand charging solution as an interim power connection measure. The transition to zero emissions is a priority for both companies, and we’re proud to be on this journey together,” stated Henrik Holland, global head of Prologis Mobility.
In light of California’s mandate to phase out diesel trucks and transition to electric drayage trucks by 2035 and electric heavy-duty trucks by 2045, companies are investing in charging infrastructure to support this shift. This project is a critical component in the infrastructure needed to achieve the state’s goals.
According to a statement, as utilities work to upgrade the electrical grid, companies like Prologis and Maersk are making substantial investments in California to develop innovative solutions that enable the immediate deployment of EV trucks. In creating the Denker charging depot, Prologis installed the necessary charging infrastructure to expedite the project’s launch and get trucks on the road, avoiding the potential two-year wait for a grid upgrade.
Prologis, in collaboration with Mainspring Energy, developed an innovative charging solution by building a microgrid—a small network of electrical generators and loads that can operate independently of the local grid while still being grid-connected. The Prologis Denker microgrid utilizes 2.75 MW of fuel-flexible, hydrogen-ready linear generators paired with 18 MWh of batteries to provide up to 9 MW of charging capacity.
“The future of heavy-duty trucking is pollution-free, and companies in California are leading the way. This public-private partnership to create California’s largest electric truck charging depot will reduce pollution and speed the adoption of electric trucks. In doing so, it helps to build energy independence for our transportation sector. This project is a big step forward and a win-win for our environment and economy,” explained Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Secretary.
With 20,000 trucks servicing the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, ongoing collaboration between government, regulators, and private industry is essential to developing the necessary infrastructure and equipment to support the trucking industry’s transition to electric vehicles.
Prologis and Performance Team officials noted that the project’s expedited delivery was due to a strong partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which facilitated long-term design and planning, the City of Los Angeles, which permitted the project, and Southern California Gas, which powered the microgrid using natural gas.
The Denker charging depot is the third commercial truck EV charging project in Southern California that Prologis Mobility and Performance Team have launched together. Performance Team facilities in Santa Fe Springs and Commerce, equipped with Prologis Mobility charging infrastructure, provide 4 MW of charging capacity—sufficient to charge 38 electric trucks.
