CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
CEC-Funded Truck Charging Station with Microgrid Opened in Bakersfield

In May 2024, WattEV, a developer of medium- and heavy-duty electric truck charging infrastructure, opened its fourth electric truck charging depot in Bakersfield, California with support from the California Energy Commission (CEC). The 119-acre site is the world's first electric truck stop featuring a solar-powered microgrid with a battery energy storage system (BESS), and is capable of rapid charging via its megawatt charging system (MCS). The station features 16 dual-cord 360-kW chargers connected to the grid and 15 single-cord 240-kW CCS chargers, plus three MCS 1,200-kW rapid chargers, drawing power from the site's solar array. This "21st Century Truck Stop" was made possible thanks to funding from the CEC, which contributed $4 million via its Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program and $1 million via its Clean Transportation Program. By increasing the availability of affordable medium- and heavy-duty public charging, California is stimulating electric freight vehicle adoption and equity in adoption of these vehicles for the commercial sector.