Greenlane’s first EV truck stop opens with grand plans for trucking’s future
On the heels of its first commercial vehicle charging hub opening in Southern California, Greenlane used the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo to lay out its vision for nationwide truck stops of the future.
The inaugural advanced commercial vehicle charging site opened April 24 in Colton, California, near the Interstate 15 and 215 interchanges. It features more than 40 high-speed chargers and some travel plaza amenities that professional drivers expect from traditional truck stops.
“This site is a signal to the industry of what is possible, our optimism around the future of commercial vehicle electrification, and how the industry can rely on public infrastructure for electrification success,” Patrick Macdonald-King, Greenlane’s chief executive, said during ACT Expo. “The station is the first of what will become our nationwide network.”
Nevoa, a fully electrified for-hire motor carrier, was the first fleet customer to sign on with Greenlane. Its fleet of electric trucks begins operating out of Colton in San Bernardino County in May as it scales up to 100 commercial EVs.
Greenlane plans to build several more charging sites along I-15 to create a 280-mile commercial EV charging corridor with locations 60 to 90 miles apart between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Macdonald-King said April 30. It targets future sites along that corridor and for drayage operations between the Port of Long Beach and California’s Inland Empire.
The CEO said Greenlane plans to announce its next charging corridor this spring. Founded earlier this decade by a three-way partnership of Daimler Truck North America, NextEra Energy Resources, and BlackRock, its mission is to create a nationwide network of zero-emission charging and hydrogen refueling services for medium- and heavy-duty battery-electric and fuel cell trucks. Its initial announced focus was on the West Coast, Texas, and the Northeast.
Greenlane also used ACT Expo to detail how it integrates its services with Volvo Trucks North America. Through its integration with Volvo Open Charge, Greenlane will enable real-time access to its network, providing Volvo customers access to public charging, centralized billing, and other benefits.
About the truck charging stops of the future
“We’re building more than just public charging stations,” Tannaz Banisadre, Greenlane COO, said during ACT. “We’re building an entire experience designed for commercial drivers and fleets.”
Greenlane’s infrastructure and technology at the Colton hub aims to support future zero-emission freight transportation by making it easier for electric- (and eventually hydrogen) powered fleets to charge and refresh at zero-emission travel centers.
The new charging station includes 41 OEM-agnostic chargers with 12 pull-through lanes featuring CCS 400 kW dual-port chargers with liquid-cooled cables to accommodate Class 8 electric trucks. There are also 29 bobtail lanes with CCS 180 kW chargers, offering intelligent energy management for optimized fleet operations. The site is also engineered with precast cable trenching, allowing for future equipment expansion and upgrades to megawatt charging as fleet demand grows.
Fleets and drivers can reserve and pay for charging locations in advance through an app.
Along with its charging technology, Greenlane’s Colton site features driver-focused amenities, such as a lounge with food and beverage options, a water refill station, and restrooms. The facility provides free Wi-Fi, mobile device charging stations, and 24/7 customer support.
Additional security measures include round-the-clock on-site attendants, security cameras, gated access, and enhanced lighting. To further support the broader transportation industry, the site also offers lease office space and truck and trailer parking, offering fleets a safe and convenient place to work and park overnight.
The Colton charging station is at 1650 Fairway Drive. It was partially funded by a $15 million grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District under the Carl Moyer Zero-Emission Infrastructure Program.
“We are honored to be the first to establish operations at the Colton site and excited to join forces with Greenlane to make switching to electric trucks scalable, cost-effective, and inevitable,” Sami Khan, Nevoya co-founder and CEO, said. “Together, we have an opportunity to make strides in electrifying America’s supply chains.”
