The planned National City facility would provide 70 charging ports for zero-emission trucks serving the Port’s cargo terminals as part of a broader effort to reduce diesel emissions around San Diego Bay.
SAN DIEGO — A proposed electric truck charging hub near the National City Marine Terminal has cleared two significant environmental and permitting steps as the Port of San Diego continues efforts to reduce emissions associated with maritime commerce.
On Aug. 11, the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners certified the Environmental Impact Report and authorized issuance of a Coastal Development Permit for the proposed Tidelands Avenue Electric Truck Hub. The approximately 4.8-acre facility is being proposed by Skycharger LLC.
The Board also authorized Port staff to sign a non-binding term sheet with Skycharger while negotiations continue on a potential lease.
Located near 19th Street and Tidelands Avenue in National City, the proposed charging station would primarily serve trucks traveling to and from the Port’s two marine cargo terminals. The industrial site is located along an existing designated truck route and does not have residential neighbors, according to the Port.
Plans call for 70 charging ports capable of providing different levels of charging, including overnight service. A convenience store and restroom facility also are proposed.
To improve energy reliability, Skycharger plans to incorporate a 1,719-kilowatt solar array and a battery storage system rated at 1.9 megawatts with 7.8 megawatt-hours of energy capacity.
The project also could provide another pathway for truck operators interested in transitioning to zero-emission equipment. Skycharger is developing a “Trucking as a Service” program intended to reduce the upfront costs associated with acquiring electric trucks. The proposed program would include a 90-day trial period and a five-year path to vehicle ownership.
The Port released the project’s Draft EIR in January. The environmental review examined potential impacts involving air quality, energy, hazardous materials, water quality, noise and transportation. According to the Port, the analysis found no significant environmental impacts requiring mitigation measures, although conditions addressing issues including truck routes, stormwater, lighting, emergency response and tribal cultural monitoring have been incorporated into the project.
The charging hub is part of the Port’s larger Maritime Clean Air Strategy, adopted in 2021 to reduce pollution from maritime and industrial operations around San Diego Bay.
That effort has already resulted in several changes visible to the region’s maritime community. Investments include electric mobile harbor cranes at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, shore power infrastructure, terminal electrification and the nation’s first fully electric harbor tug, which began operating on San Diego Bay in 2024. Marine Group Boat Works also has converted a diesel tugboat to electric propulsion as part of the broader transition.
The Port and its partners have invested or committed approximately $240 million toward clean-air technologies and projects associated with the strategy.
The proposed truck hub, however, is not yet ready for construction.
Port staff and Skycharger must complete lease negotiations, with the current term sheet proposing a 20-year lease and an optional five-year extension. Skycharger also has proposed contributing $150,000 annually toward community benefits throughout the lease.
A final lease agreement is expected to return to the Board for consideration in the coming months. Construction cannot begin until a lease is executed and the necessary building permits are secured.
