Over the course of a year, Schneider National, Inc.’s South El Monte battery-electric trucks (BETs) fleet, funded through California’s Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI) project, has reached an impressive milestone: driving over 2 million zero-emission miles while hauling freight in the South Coast Air Basin. This accomplishment has led to a reduction of approximately 280,000 gallons of diesel fuel, equivalent to cutting 3,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and has also contributed to lowering nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by one ton in our region. In addition to providing regional CO2 and NOx emission reductions, the replacement of polluting diesel drayage trucks improves localized air quality in communities throughout the Southland.

Schneider’s South El Monte facility features a 4.8-MW charging depot consisting of 16 ultrafast dual-dispenser Power Electronics chargers, enabling simultaneous charging of up to 32 BETs. Currently, the site supports a fleet of 92 BETs including 50 funded by the JETSI project. Site planning and permitting took over two years, plus six months of construction and an additional three months for trenching and installing the charging infrastructure. Spanning 4,900 square feet, the site was energized in May 2023 and has been operating daily since.

Feedback from Schneider drivers has been overwhelmingly positive. They have reported a smooth transition to driving the BETs, appreciating the quiet ride quality and the smooth steering experience provided by the trucks.

JETSI is jointly funded by the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission ($26.9 million), the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) ($8 million), and South Coast AQMD ($5.4 million), with an additional $21.7 million combined from the Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, Southern California Edison, NFI Industries, Inc., and Schneider National, Inc.