Summary
- DOE announced a $68 million investment to design, develop, and demonstrate innovative electric vehicle charging sites
- SuperTruck Program aims to reduce MHD truck greenhouse gas emissions by 75% and reduce total cost of truck ownership
- SuperTruck Charge projects focus on large-scale, high-power charging installations for MHD electric fleets
- Selected projects aim to support MHD EV charging on freight corridors, demonstrate grid management strategies, and utilize renewable energy integration
- SuperTruck Charge complements other DOE efforts to expand access to EV charging through innovative grid solutions
Article
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $68 million investment in the SuperTruck Charge initiative to design, develop, and demonstrate innovative electric vehicle (EV) charging sites near key ports, distribution hubs, and major corridors for medium-and heavy-duty (MHD) EVs. This initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of large-scale public EV charging infrastructure to improve grid resiliency and reliability. The SuperTruck Program, which began in 2009, has already made significant advancements in energy-efficient technologies for freight trucks, with SuperTruck 3 projects focusing on reducing MHD truck emissions by 75% and lowering the total cost of truck ownership by 2027.
The SuperTruck Charge projects will target large-scale, replicable, high-power charging installations to serve MHD electric fleets with tens to hundreds of vehicles. These projects will develop and demonstrate high-capacity charging infrastructure to serve MHD electric trucks for long-haul use cases, especially in regions where grid capacity is limited. As momentum grows for MHD electrification, these projects will help scale up infrastructure to improve air quality, enhance the reliability of commercial road transport, and establish America’s global competitiveness and leadership in MHD electrification.
Selected projects include Supercharging the Southwest, Mega Charging the I-15 Corridor, and SUPERCHARGE. These projects aim to demonstrate innovative grid and load management strategies, reduce electric-grid impact, and establish reliable and scalable charging infrastructure blueprints that can be implemented nationwide. Through the use of advanced technology and cost-effective architecture, these projects will help the industry move towards widespread adoption of Class 6-8 electric trucks and contribute to a more sustainable future for commercial road transport.
The SuperTruck Charge initiative, administered by DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, is part of a larger effort to expand access to EV charging through innovative grid and planning solutions. Other initiatives announced by DOE include Connected Communities 2.0 and Communities Taking Charge Accelerator, which focus on advancing grid-edge solutions and filling gaps in public charging infrastructure to support the transition to electric vehicles. These efforts align with the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy to promote energy and emissions innovation in medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
While selection for award negotiations does not guarantee funding, the SuperTruck Charge projects are a crucial step towards advancing energy-efficient technologies for freight trucks and accelerating the cleantech revolution. By supporting independent cleantech coverage and investing in innovative solutions for MHD electrification, stakeholders can contribute to a more sustainable and competitive future for America’s transportation sector.
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