Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, July 25, 2024:
TA breaks ground on public electric truck charging station
Four 400-kW chargers are expected to be in use in 2025, with an additional 1-MW charger going live in 2026.TravelCenters of America
TravelCenters of America announced Tuesday that it has broken ground on what will be one of the nation’s first public truck charging stations at its Ontario, California, TA location.
The truck charging station will have four 400-kW chargers, to go live in early 2025, with an additional 1-MW charger in 2026. The megawatt charger will provide DC ultra-fast charging for up to five trucks simultaneously, TA said.
The location will also act as an innovation site, allowing parent-company BP to test/demonstrate the effectiveness of new technologies, including deploying one of the first available megawatt charger systems; an integrated microgrid generating reliable, renewable power from 250 kW canopy-mounted solar panels; and a battery energy storage system for up to 1 megawatt hour of power.
[Related: Electric trucks don’t stand a chance, even in drayage, without more power infrastructure]
“This truck charging station is strategically located at the intersection of two of the nation’s busiest highway interstates and is a prime location to serve early-adopter electric truck fleet operators,” said Debi Boffa, TA CEO.
In 2021, TA, the California Energy Commission, and the Electric Power Research Institute started designs for building an electric truck charging station at TA Ontario. The project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of public-access charging for battery-electric heavy-duty trucks, the company said.
Sujay Sharma, CEO of BP Pulse Americas, added the “project further demonstrates BP Pulse and TA’s commitment to support fleet customers and is just the beginning of our endeavors in truck charging to build fast and reliable charging infrastructure to support our EV drivers.”
TA said it’s also planning to develop projects at other Southern California locations, while also looking at developing other corridors in the U.S. to support demand for truck charging.
[Related: ‘Massive’ rate increase needed to finance $1 trillion electric trucking conversion]
I-17 closure planned for this weekend in north Phoenix
A stretch of southbound Interstate 17 is scheduled to be closed this weekend (July 26-29) in north Phoenix for ongoing pavement improvement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Drivers should allow extra time, consider traveling during non-peak morning or nighttime hours, and stay on the designated detour route with SB I-17 closed between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
Traffic will detour on WB Loop 303 to SB Lake Pleasant Parkway and use EB Happy Valley Road to return to I-17.
Crews are continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on six miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74. Additional I-17 closures or lane restrictions will be needed as the work proceeds. ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts here.
[Related: Owner-operators call out the absolute worst stretch of highway in the nation]
Vegas ‘Pave-a-Thon’ to close I-15 over next two weekends
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is planning for full directional closures of Interstate 15 and associated ramps over two consecutive weekends in July and August as part of the department’s “Pave-A-Thon” effort.
The closures are necessary for a pavement rehabilitation project between Warm Springs and Flamingo roads, NDOT said.
Nevada DOT
The closure schedule is as follows:
- NB I-15: Closed from Warm Springs Road to Flamingo Road from 9 p.m. Friday, July 26 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 29. NB I-15 between Tropicana and Flamingo roads will reopen by 5 a.m. Sunday, July 28.
- SB I-15: Closed from Flamingo Road to Warm Springs Road from 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5.
Drivers should use caution while traveling through work zones, and take alternate detour routes, if possible, NDOT said. NDOT works with Waze to inform the public about planned highway restrictions. The schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors.