Fleet electrification provider Zeem Solutions announced March 31 the grand opening of the first commercial EV transportation-as-a-service depot near Los Angeles International Airport. The depot, a hub for zero-emission vehicle services, is one of the largest commercial EV charging installations in the U.S. that supports medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle fleets.

The LA-area depot, located in the city of Inglewood next to LAX, is the first in a series that Zeem plans to build nationwide to enable medium- and heavy-duty fleet owners to electrify. The company owns and maintains electric trucks, vans, shuttle buses and other vehicles that are leased to fleets businesses that pay a monthly lease to use the vehicles. Zeem works with local utilities and renewable energy providers to ensure vehicles are charged using clean, reliable and low-cost energy. Customers get access to the vehicles, plus daily charging and parking at conveniently located depots that Zeem builds and operates – all for a monthly lease that costs less than owning and operating a gasoline or diesel-fueled fleet. 

“Zeem’s first fleet electrification depot is open for business," said Paul Gioupis, CEO of Zeem Solutions, in a news release. "Our business model – Transportation-as-a-Service or E-Fleet-as-a-Service – combines the latest commercial electric vehicles alongside reliable chargers purpose-built for fleet use in a centrally-located depot. This model enables fleets to transition to electric vehicles quickly, easily, and affordably at a time when they are under more pressure to do so. We know that charging is the biggest challenge facing fleets as they transition to zero emission vehicles. Providing fast chargers alongside electric trucks and vans will allow our customers to switch from diesel vehicles to electric trucks and shuttles quickly, achieving cost and carbon emission reductions at the same time. Our vision at Zeem is to support thousands of zero-emission vehicles operating out of hundreds of depots like this around the country.”  

Zeem's LAX electric fleet depot has 77 fast charging ports, 53 Level 2 chargers, a comfortable lounge where drivers can rest and recharge in between routes, and the capacity to charge and store more than 200 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on-site and support hundreds more for opportunity charging. Fleets operating out of Zeem’s LAX depot include tour buses, airport shuttles, last-mile delivery vans and trucks, third-party logistics, mobility services, ridesharing and drayage operations. In addition to services for monthly subscribers, Zeem offers opportunity charging for high-mileage fleets for last-mile delivery and rideshare services who need a place to charge their vehicles.

“Zeem’s new depot is an important resource that will allow us to offer our customers the high-quality experience of Hollywood and Los Angeles that they expect, while gliding along in the comfort of a high-tech, zero-emission vehicle, with zero noise pollution as well,” added Kami Farhadi, Owner of Starline Tours of Hollywood. “We love the convenience and access to low-cost charging and fleet services, especially as we adjust to driving electric. It’s also valuable to our business to contribute to Los Angeles’ ecotourism and appeal to sustainability-conscious travelers of today and tomorrow.”