In this new series, members of our influential EV100 network of electric fleet pioneers share key insights from the first phase of their EV transition. Here, the US-based global real estate logistics group Prologis takes us behind the scenes of a heavy-duty EV charging hub in California. Powered by a microgrid, it was built – in record time – by fundamentally rethinking charging infrastructure design and deployment.
The electrification of transportation is accelerating, but the infrastructure to support it often lags fleet deployment schedules. As we were building our mobility business, we knew that speed and scalability were critical to developing charging infrastructure. One key challenge, however, is procuring the energy necessary to power heavy-duty charging facilities.
Prologis has an internal, highly experienced energy team focused on supporting a distributed energy platform. Today, we’re building smart, flexible energy solutions that help our customers grow and adapt as their needs change.
The Denker facility in Torrance, California, exemplifies this and has become the foundation for our new adaptable charging platform.
A microgrid for zero-emissions vehicles
Strategically positioned near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with direct access to major freeways, the Denker site sits at the epicenter of Southern California’s freight ecosystem. Designed to serve a major fleet operator’s heavy-duty electric truck deployment, we engineered the facility from the ground up. It now can also function as a hub, capable of serving multiple customers and supporting high-throughput charging in a dense urban corridor.
When we started building Denker, we quickly became aware that getting the power we needed was going to be problematic. Traditional grid interconnection and upgrades in the area carried estimated timelines of 3–5 years. Our customer, however, had trucks ready to deploy.
Rather than wait for the grid to catch up, we took the lead – building a microgrid to give the site immediate power and full autonomy from day one.
Delivering site power and stability from day one
The result is one of North America’s largest heavy-duty EV charging hubs, powered by an integrated system of six microgrids that include:
- 9 megawatts of total charging capacity, supporting 96 trucks charging simultaneously
- 18 megawatt-hours of battery storage, enabling off-grid operations for extended periods
- 2.75 megawatts of linear generators, fuel-flexible and hydrogen-ready for long-term adaptability
- Dynamic microgrid controls that balance power flow and optimize uptime
The modular energy architecture enabled the customer to be operational in just five months, a fraction of the time required for an average new service request of this size.
From a single site to a scalable system
Denker’s success wasn’t an endpoint – it was a blueprint. Using what we learned, our team developed the Prologis modular charging island platform: a prefabricated, skid-based EV charging solution engineered for rapid deployment, even in locations waiting for grid upgrades.
Each Prologis modular charging island unit can deliver up to 1,200 kW across eight ports, is megawatt charging system (MCS) ready and features:
- Integrated power cabinets, dispensers and controls
- Optional storage or generator modules for enhanced flexibility
- Plug-and-play deployment, pre-commissioned offsite for speed and consistency
This solution enables companies and fleet operators to scale operations quickly, adjust for seasonal demand fluctuations and begin electrifying immediately. Think about it as a no-regret infrastructure investment that adapts to evolving operational needs.
Our first Prologis modular charging island deployment launches at the Vernon public charging hub in late 2025. Located in another high-throughput logistics corridor in Los Angeles County, Vernon will provide shared charging access to both major fleet operators and independent drivers, further validating the multi-user hub model.
Building today for what tomorrow requires
Customer centricity is at the core of our culture and is what drove the innovative approach we used at Denker. Our focus on helping our customers meet their goals helped our team fundamentally rethink charging infrastructure design and deployment.
That innovation led to the Prologis modular charging island, which will scale across markets and customer needs. The demand for energy is rapidly outstripping supply. That’s why we’re creating practical solutions that fill the gap – supporting the grid and helping customers move forward with electrification.
The future of fleet electrification demands infrastructure that moves as fast as the vehicles it powers. Through modular, scalable solutions like the Prologis modular charging island, we’re ensuring that infrastructure is never the bottleneck in the transition to zero-emission transportation.
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This thought leadership piece was contributed by Prologis as part of the EV100 relaunch. EV100 is Climate Group’s global network of corporate leaders driving the transition to zero-emission road transport.
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