The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and authorized a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the Skycharger facility on a 4.8-acre site near the National City Marine Terminal. This approval officially green-lights a first-of-its-kind project that combines solar power generation, battery energy storage, and megawatt-level charging for electric semi-trucks.
The proposed Skycharger facility will feature 70 charging ports with varying output levels to support both opportunity charging and overnight charging for local trucking fleets. Power will be supplied by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and an on-site 1,719-kW solar array, backed by a 1.9 MW / 7.8 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) designed to keep electricity costs low and ensure operational resilience.
For logistics companies, port operators, and commercial fleet owners, this project signals a significant step toward affordable, scalable fleet electrification. The integration of on-site solar and storage reduces dependence on grid electricity during peak rates, potentially lowering total cost of ownership (TCO) for electric fleets.
Additionally, Skycharger's 'Trucking as a Service' (TaaS) model – which includes a 90-day 'try before you buy' ultra-short-term lease and a five-year path to ownership – lowers the financial barrier for fleet managers. This approach allows operators to deploy zero-emission trucks (ZETs) without large upfront capital investments, addressing a key pain point in the transition to clean heavy transport.
Port Commissioners emphasized the project's role in improving air quality and public health. 'This project is an investment in the public health of our community and in the future we want to build together,' said Commissioner GilAnthony Ungab, M.D. The non-binding Term Sheet with Skycharger now advances lease negotiations, moving the project toward construction.
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