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Utilities Eye West Coast, EV Charging Corridor For Long Haul Trucks

Is it possible to transform the long haul trucking industry from being based on pollution emitting diesel to all electric? A group of nine electric utilities and two agencies on the West Coast of the United States said on Thursday they have launched an effort to explore electric vehicle (EV) charging to enable "zero-emission" shipping along the I-5, connecting California, Washington, and Oregon by an all-electric shipping cooridor. The agencies--including Southern California Edison, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Northern California Power Agency, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, Puget Sound Energy, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Public Power Authority--said they are looking at escablishing a solution which would enable all electric big rigs to haul freight up and down the I-5, without releasing pollution or carbon into the air. Although the effort is early--the utilities are only launching a study--the effort will help determine what role electricity providers can play in electrifying the corridor and determine key locations for electric truck charging infrastructure will also be identified and prioritized. A number of truck manufacturers have all-electric trucks under development. (Image: Tesla Semi, Tesla's entry into the all electric truck market.)