Heavy-Duty Fleet EV Charging: Off-Grid & L3 DC Fast

Electrifying heavy-duty fleets trucks, buses, and specialty vehicles is one of the most effective ways to cut emissions and lower long-term operating costs. But one challenge continues to block progress: charging infrastructure delays.

To electrify successfully, you need to understand your charging options, site limitations, and how to deploy solutions quickly especially if you want to avoid waiting 12–24 months for grid upgrades.

This article breaks down what you need to know about heavy-duty fleet EV charging, and introduces a new off-grid path to get started now.

Charging Options for Heavy-Duty Fleets

Not all chargers are built for heavy-duty vehicles. Here’s a breakdown of what’s available and what your fleet really needs:

Level 2 Charging (AC Charging)

• Power Output: Up to 19.2 kW(US) and 22kW(Europe)
• Best For: Light-duty vehicles or overnight charging
• Charge Time: 8–12+ hours for large EVs
• Pros: Easy to install, lower cost
• Cons: Too slow for most heavy-duty applications

✅ Good for fleet cars or support vehicles not sufficient for high-utilization trucks or buses.

Level 3 Charging / DC Fast Charging

• Power Output: 50 kW to 350+ kW
• Best For: Medium- and heavy-duty fleets
• Charge Time: 1–2 hours for large battery packs
• Pros: Fast, scalable, built for commercial uptime
• Cons: Requires significant grid power and infrastructure upgrades

✅ This is the go-to solution for most heavy-duty EV fleets.

The Challenge: Infrastructure Isn’t Keeping Up

Electrifying a heavy-duty fleet requires more than buying the vehicles you need enough charging capacity to support daily operations.

But there are serious hurdles:

• 12–24 month delays in utility grid upgrades
• High upfront CAPEX for installing high-power chargers
• Limited depot space or permitting obstacles
• Unpredictable coordination between utilities, municipalities, and contractors

These bottlenecks are slowing EV deployments across logistics, transit, sanitation, and port operations.

The Fast Track: Off-Grid Heavy-Duty EV Charging with L-Charge

To overcome these barriers, L-Charge offers an alternative: off-grid, ultra-fast EV charging purpose-built for heavy-duty fleets.

Our Charging-as-a-Service model delivers high-power charging up to 360 kW directly to your site using mobile and modular units powered by renewable natural gas (RNG), flare gas, CNG or LNG.

You don’t need to wait for grid upgrades. We provide:

• ✅ Rapid deployment (units live in days, not years)
• ✅ No upfront costs (you only pay for energy used)
• ✅ A full-service solution (we handle fuel, maintenance, and ops)
• ✅ Flexible scaling as your fleet grows
• ✅ Cleaner fuels to meet emissions and ESG targets

Whether you need a temporary bridge charging while waiting for utility upgrades or a long-term off-grid solution, L-Charge’s Charging-as-a-Service gets your fleet charging without the grid.

If you already have EVSE installed waiting on the grid connection our Power-as-a-Service solution could be right for you to power your existing infrastructure.

Example Implementation: Truck Depot Electrification in 10 Days

A regional logistics fleet received 20 electric trucks but the site’s utility upgrade alongside with EVSE wouldn’t be ready for 18 months. L-Charge can deploy 2 Charging-as-a-Service trailers, bringing charging depot to full operation within days.

Results:

• 100% uptime across fleet
• Zero CAPEX spent on infrastructure
• Maintenance and fueling managed by L-Charge
• Lower emissions via RNG-powered charging

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What kind of charging is needed for heavy-duty EVs?
A: Most heavy-duty vehicles require DC fast charging at 150kW or more. Level 2 charging is typically too slow for daily operational needs.

Q: How long does it take to install grid-based chargers?
A: Utility upgrades, permitting, and hardware installation can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months, depending on your location.

Q: Can I use off-grid charging as a permanent solution?
A: Yes. Many customers continue using L-Charge long-term because it simplifies operations and avoids costly grid tie-ins.

Q: What fuels power L-Charge systems?
A: We use renewable natural gas (RNG), flare gas, CNG or LNG depending on our client’s sustainability goals and site conditions.

Q: Can I use this setup for mixed fleets?
A: Absolutely. L-Charge systems can be configured to support light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles on the same site.

Take the First Step Toward Fleet Electrification Without the Grid

If you’re ready to electrify your heavy-duty fleet but are stuck waiting for infrastructure, L-Charge’s Power-as-a-Service can get you up and running immediately.

Our off-grid, ultra-fast EV charging systems are built for fleets that need high performance, fast deployment, and zero headaches.

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