New Truck Charging Pilot from Penske and Hitachi

Hitachi America, Ltd., Hitachi Energy, and Penske Truck Leasing announced the launch of a large-scale, centralized electric truck charging solution. This new project supports Penske’s electric truck deployments for its customers in the Stockton, California area. 

For this pilot initiative, Hitachi Energy has supplied Penske with its state-of-the-art Grid-eMotion Fleet EV charging system.

The integrated direct current (DC) fast charging solution is designed to scale up and deliver multi-megawatt level charging capabilities, tailored to meet the demanding requirements of truck fleets of varying sizes.

What's Grid-eMotion Fleet?

Grid-eMotion Fleet is a grid-scale and space-saving grid-to-plug charging solution that can be installed in new and existing truck depots and logistics centers. The charging solution can be scaled flexibly as the fleet gets bigger and greener. It includes different charging points configurations and a robust and compact grid connection directly at the distribution level.

The system is available to support commercial vehicle fleets of all kinds, including last-mile delivery and heavy-duty trucks that require high-power charging of several megawatts.

It is equipped with configurable smart charging digital platforms that can be embedded with larger fleet and energy management systems. Additional offerings from Hitachi Energy for EV charging systems consist of e-mesh energy management and optimization solutions and Lumada APM, EAM, and FSM solutions to help transportation operators make informed decisions that maximize their uptime and improve efficiency.

The new system features include its ability to reduce space requirements up to 60% compared to conventional charging systems. Additionally, it cuts cabling needs up to 40% – ensuring effective use of resources while maintaining high-capacity charging for electric vehicles (EVs).

“Investing in our capabilities with electric vehicles and charging solutions is crucial as our customers seek to decarbonize their fleets and comply with emissions regulations,” said Art Vallely, President of Penske Truck Leasing. “Robust public and private charging infrastructures are essential to ensure the viability of commercial electric trucks in the future.”

Penske has been a pioneer in adopting battery electric commercial vehicles and made substantial investments in testing, maintaining, and expanding charging infrastructure to support these vehicles. The company has been continually testing and operating EV trucks across its leasing, rental and logistics fleets in various industries including retail, manufacturing, grocery, quick-service restaurant chains, medical, automotive parts, among others.

Grid-eMotion Fleet in Action 

Hitachi Energy’s Grid-eMotion Fleet charging system in Stockton is already being used to charge a growing number of EVs across light-, medium- and heavy-duty applications. Its 10-pedestal system can charge as many as 10 trucks on-site up to 100kW or five trucks up to 200kW, showcasing its versatility and scalability for Penske’s fleet operations.

“We’re excited to be working with Hitachi on deployment of this cutting-edge technology,” said Drew Cullen, Senior Vice President of Fuels and Facility Services at Penske. “When we were first introduced to the Grid-eMotion solution, we were impressed with its capability and flexibility and what that could mean for our customers. This installation in Stockton will provide ‘real world’ experience and significantly enhance our collaboration with Hitachi.”

This collaboration extends Hitachi’s existing partnerships with Penske Corporation, rooted in the IndyCar racing series, emphasizing their joint commitment to expedite fleet-wide emissions reduction through widespread electric charging station deployment.

Additionally, Hitachi and Penske are exploring AI-based smart charging solutions to optimize vehicle charging processes. This endeavor unlocks fresh prospects, laying the groundwork for enhanced service, maintenance, and EV charging opportunities throughout Penske’s fleet.

“This project with Penske marks a significant leap forward in our collective commitment to sustainable transportation and demonstrates how we can move electric fleets from niche to mainstream,” said Hicham Abdessamad, Chairman and CEO of Hitachi America, Ltd. “Hitachi designed Grid-eMotion Fleet and other solutions specifically to address commercial and public transportation electrification. Partnering with Penske, we’re paving the way for a better transportation future for everyone.”