El Monte, California – Schneider held a ribbon cutting event for their part of the JETSI project’s 100 battery-electric Class 8 truck deployment.
Scheider showcased the deployment of 50 zero-emission Freightliner eCascadia trucks and 16 350-kW chargers obtained through the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI) project.
Schneider will have nearly 100 eCascadias in their fleet by the end of 2023 due to additional funding support from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Targeted Airshed Grant, Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, and Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP).
The fleet will be used to transport goods between ports, warehouses and businesses across California.
Top leaders from California’s air quality agencies were present:
- Lianne Randolph, Chair, California Air Resources Board (CARB)
- Patty Monahan, Commissioner, California Energy Commission (CEC)
- Michael Cacciotti, Vice Chair, South Coast AQMD
- Brian Berkson, MSRC
- Rakesh Aneja, VP of eMobility, Daimler Truck
The event included ride-alongs in the electric big-rigs, lessons about the charging infrastructure, talks with leaders, and photo opportunities with the new equipment and teams.
New Schneider eCascadia with the company’s iconic orange cab.
The ribbon-cutting concluded with a demonstration and tour of the battery electric trucks and charging stations.
Black & Veatch representatives were present to showcase the charging stations designed and built by their team.
The charging station includes 16, 350-kilowatt, dual-corded dispensers, supplied by four 1.2-megawatt power cabinets from Power Electronics. With the dual-corded dispensers, 32 battery-electric trucks (BETs) can be charged simultaneously, reaching an 80% charge within 90 minutes, increasing efficiency of operations for Schneider.
The new zero-emission trucks will bring relief to communities such as South El Monte that sit next to heavily trafficked corridors and face air quality issues. This ensures that the transition to clean air is equitable.
About the JETSI Project
JETSI is the first battery electric truck project jointly financed by California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission, which together awarded the project $27 million. Additional funding was provided by South Coast AQMD, MSRC, San Pedro Bay Ports and SCE. This Zero-Emission Drayage Truck and Infrastructure Pilot Project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities. Learn more at www.jetsiproject.com