Skycharger, a leading U.S. developer of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, has been conditionally awarded a $10 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) under its CRITICAL PATHS 2.0 program. The funding will support the design, construction, and operation of two major electric truck stops in Kettleman City and Lebec, California—two high-traffic freight corridors along the I-5.
Each site will host 32 high-capacity fast charging stations capable of simultaneously charging 64 heavy-duty trucks at 200 kW or higher, making them among the most robust EV charging hubs for freight vehicles in the state. The truck stops will also feature 5.1 MW of solar power and 8 MWh of battery energy storage, ensuring sustainable, resilient operations.
“We are grateful to the California Energy Commission and the State of California for their unwavering support for transportation electrification, including heavy-duty trucks,” said Andy Karetsky, President of Skycharger. “Electric trucks mean cleaner air, less noise, lower operating costs, and abundant benefits for workers and communities wherever trucks travel and charge. The future is still electric.”
The Kettleman City and Lebec sites experience daily truck traffic of over 14,000 and 23,000 trucks, respectively—including more than 28,000 heavy-duty trucks combined—making them strategic locations for electrification.
Skycharger’s proposal received the highest ranking among EV charging infrastructure projects under CRITICAL PATHS 2.0 and is part of a broader effort to support zero-emission freight transport. The new initiative builds on Skycharger’s previous success with the Port of San Diego, where the company is developing a 70-port electric truck charging hub supported by a separate $10 million CEC grant awarded in 2024.
The truck stop project is being delivered in partnership with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and Burns & McDonnell, and includes comprehensive workforce and community engagement. Construction will follow Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), creating over 90 skilled jobs and supporting union labor and local hiring in Kern and Kings counties.
Skycharger is also establishing a $2.24 million community benefit fund, providing annual contributions of $100,000 with 1.5% annual escalation to support scholarships and other local programs over the project’s 20-year life.
The project is expected to eliminate over 1 million metric tons of CO₂ and all tailpipe emissions from diesel trucks it replaces, delivering long-term environmental and public health benefits.
