More than 1,000 people explored two dozen medium- and heavy-duty commercial EVs on display and heard panels discuss CA’s clean fleet regulations

Photos available here.

SAN DIEGO, April 7, 2023 — EV Fleet Day returned to San Diego today for a second year, showcasing some of the region’s cleanest fleets, including plug-in electric big rigs, buses, shuttles, garbage trucks, cargo vans and other zero-emission commercial vehicles. Hosted by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), the event featured nearly two dozen medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, along with vendor exhibits and expert discussions.

Miguel Romero, SDG&E vice president of energy innovation, opened the event which attracted 1,000 fleet operators, EV manufacturers, environmental, public utility and municipal agencies, and community residents. Many attendees climbed into the display vehicles to experience the new technology first-hand.  

"As local businesses and public agencies transition to zero-emission fleets to meet California’s clean air and climate goals, they need technical support and resources,” Romero said. “EV Fleet Day helps them by bringing together key stakeholders regionwide to share best practices for planning, deploying, and maintaining electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them.”

Held at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego, the event featured expert panels, such as Transitioning to Electricity for Your Fleet, Connecting to the Electric Grid & Managing Energy, and Learning from Fleet Electrification Case Studies. 

Funding and regulations were two central topics that experts discussed on stage, aware that fleet operators are weighing the effects of the Advanced Clean Fleets rule, which will be considered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on April 27-28.  Fleet operators discussed how they are navigating a variety of regulations and funding opportunities, as they transition to sustainable transportation.

SDG&E is working with local fleet operators through various programs to help them phase out diesel-burning trucks and switch to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to improve air quality for residents and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Through its Power Your Drive for Fleets program, SDG&E helps install infrastructure to interconnect chargers for medium- and heavy-duty EVs, working with fleets from the initial planning stage through to design, construction, and ongoing site maintenance. Power Your Drive for Fleets is applicable to Class 2-8 on-road and off-road vehicles, including medium- and heavy-duty trucks and vans. Financial incentives are available for fleets operating in disadvantaged communities and small business fleets. In addition, for businesses currently charging a fleet of EVs, SDG&E offers the EV-HP pricing plan, which eliminates demand charges and simplifies billing. Learn more here. 

CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation is poised for approval this month. If approved, it will mean a quick transition to zero-emission fleets in California.

“Ambitious plans are on the table to reduce diesel pollution from medium and heavy duty trucks, which accounts for more than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions and almost 50% of emissions from oxides of nitrogen or NOx,” said CARB board member Diane Takvorian, who is also co-founder and former executive director of the Environmental Health Coalition (EHC). “We know the transition to clean fleets is critical as it will result in health benefits, especially for the communities that are most impacted by diesel and particulate pollution.”

San Diego Airport Parking and Green Power Motor Company are already ahead of the electrification curve, operating a 100% battery-electric airport shuttle fleet since 2021.

“San Diego Airport Parking's shuttles have logged more than 490,000 EV miles, proving that public-private collaborations can be part of the sustainable solution towards California’s clean transportation future,” said Lisa McGhee, business development manager at Green Power Motor Company.

In addition to Green Power Motor Company, other EV solution providers displayed innovative vehicles on the pier including, Orange EV, Workhorse, Creative Bus Sales, Battle Motors, Velocity Truck Centers, BYD, Hyundai, Hyzon, Lightning eMotors, Lion Electric, Nikola, Rivian, Peterbilt, Volvo, XOS Trucks, MTS, Ford of El Cajon.