Portland General Electric, Daimler Trucks North America to create public heavy-duty electric truck charging site
Portland General Electric (PGE) and Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) are joining forces to create Electric Island, a first of its kind, large public charging site specifically for commercial, heavy-duty electric trucks.
The pair hope the site will aid the development, testing, and deployment of zero-emission commercial vehicles. However, its main feature will be the ability to charge commercial electric vehicles at up to four times the speed of modern chargers. It will support up to nine vehicle charging stations with charging levels of up to greater than 1 MW. Construction, which is already underway, should be finished by spring 2021.
“Oregon’s transportation future is electric, and with global leaders like Daimler Trucks North America right here in Portland, we have the opportunity to accelerate a clean energy transition,” Maria Pope, president and CEO of PGE, said. “We are excited to launch this cutting-edge partnership with DTNA, demonstrating what is possible when utilities and the automotive industry collaborate and innovate.”
Electric Island will be capable of charging light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles. It will also eventually expand beyond current plans to include additional chargers, on-site energy storage, solar power generation, as well as a product and technology showcase building. The site will be fully greenhouse gas emissions-free.
The site will help PGE address charging needs and inform DTNA’s efforts at commercial electric vehicle development. The pair will use Electric Island to study the use of the new, high powered vehicle chargers, integration of heavy-duty charging technology into PGE’s Smart Grid, and information technology opportunities, such as fleet and energy management through captive solutions and services.
“In cooperation with PGE, and with the plan to expand electric vehicle charging right here in Portland to support not only our EV charging needs but those of other drivers in the area, we are paving the way to a brighter, cleaner CO2-neutral future,” Roger Nielsen, president and CEO of DTNA, said. “As the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, we can accelerate this shift and are excited to address, holistically, the complete EV ecosystem.”
