Golden State Logistics, a leader in port drayage since 1996, serving the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, is unlocking its EV charging potential. By utilizing a Volt Vault, natural-gas powered EV charging solution, they reduced their electric vehicle charging costs from 43 cents to 17 cents per kWh and revolutionized their daily charging schedule.
“We were looking for a solution that would let us avoid peak charging rates during the 4 to 9 PM window. With Volt Vault and its L3 chargers, drivers can plug in as soon as trucks return, even at 4 or 5 PM, and be ready by about 6 PM for a second shift without worrying about peak or demand charges.”
— Fred Johring , Golden State Logistics
Unlocking Operational Freedom: By the Numbers
- 60% Cost Reduction
Energy costs dropped from $0.43/kWh to $0.17/kWh. - 100% Schedule Flexibility
Eliminated the need for night-shift-only charging. - Peak Avoidance
Zero exposure to utility peak demand charges during mid-day charging. - Decreased Charging Time
Significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to charge their EV truck using the L3 charger on the Volt Vault
The Challenge: The High Price of Going Green
Golden State Logistics was fully committed to electrifying their fleet However, they quickly realized they needed to work within the limitations of traditional charging infrastructure, developing a strategic schedule to keep charging costs down while staying on track with their customers.
Golden State Logistics’ daily charging operations were largely dictated by the utility’s time-of-use rates. To keep costs manageable, they had to rely on the night shift team to schedule vehicle charging during the middle of the night. It was a workaround that got the job done, but it lacked the flexibility that a logistics team needs to thrive.
The Solution: Power on Your Terms
U.S. Energy stepped in with a solution designed for the real world of logistics, not just a spreadsheet. We deployed Volt Vault, an independent, natural-gas supplied EV charging generator solution that allowed Golden State Logistics to bypass the utility’s peak pricing constraints entirely.
The impact was immediate. The cost per kWh fell to just 17 cents—a massive win for the bottom line. But the operational shift was even more valuable. Because Volt Vault stabilizes fuel costs regardless of the time of day, Golden State Logistics could rethink their charging schedule.
Morning drivers can now run their routes and return to the depot during the port’s standard mid-day closure. Instead of parking the trucks and waiting for the night shift to plug them in, they can charge immediately during that mid-day break.
The Impact of Grid-Independent Charging
Massive Cost Savings: Lowering charging costs to 17 cents per kWh made operating the electric fleet more cost-effective.
Operational Freedom: The “night shift” bottleneck is gone. Drivers charge during the day when the port is closed, maximizing uptime and keeping the fleet ready for the next run.
Consistent Cost per kWh: No more complex charging management to dodge peak pricing. The team simply plugs in when they need to, and the costs stay predictable.
Ready to Unlock Your EV Charging Potential? See Volt Vault at ACT Expo
Managing a fleet can come with headaches — keeping your EV charging budget in check shouldn’t be one of them.
If you are heading to the ACT Expo this year and want to see how this independent power solution works, we would love to show you. Come visit the Volt Vault team outside near the ride and drive area or at Booth 1923.
We will walk you through our solutions and how you can cut your charging costs, bypass infrastructure delays, and keep your fleet charged on your terms.
