Fleet Electrification: Heavy-Duty Charging at Scale
The transition to zero-emission freight vehicles is another driver of concentrated demand. Global sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks grew 35% in 2023, reaching about 54,000 units, with the U.S. market expected to scale from a few thousand vehicles today to tens of thousands per year by the late 2020s. Across the U.S., new policies are steering the heavy-duty truck market toward electrification—with roughly a third of new trucks expected to be zero-emission by the early 2030s.
electric trucks sold globally in 2023
growth of global sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks
Heavy-duty electric trucks require charging capacities on the order of 300 kW to 1 MW per vehicle, compared to 7–150 kW for passenger EV chargers. When aggregated at charging depots, simultaneous charging can create localized demand in the 10–20 MW range. This type of load density highlights the importance of integrated planning and supplemental power strategies—such as onsite generation, storage and load management—that can accelerate near-term deployment while aligning with long-term grid modernization.
Meeting this demand with grid infrastructure can take years, particularly when upstream transmission upgrades are needed. Utilities are working on these projects while supplemental power helps fleets move forward sooner. In Los Angeles, however, the Denker Avenue charging hub demonstrates an alternative path. Completed in just five months, the project integrates 2.75 MW of hydrogen-ready natural gas generation with 18 MWh of battery storage to deliver 9 MW of charging capacity—enough to charge 96 trucks at once. The hub was designed to complement utility service, bridging demand while long-term upgrades move forward.
charging ports supported by 18 MWh of battery storage
