Transportation officials from California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Baja California announced a coordinated zero-emission truck charging and fueling corridor along Interstate 5 at a recent ceremony and zero-emission truck showcase at the Port of Long Beach.
The British Columbia to Baja California ZEV Corridor, called BC2BC, is intended to let battery-electric trucks charge and run the length of the West Coast, from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Baja California, Mexico. The initial buildout includes 20 electric charging stations and three hydrogen stations.
What the five governments signed is a statement of principles, not a construction or funding agreement. The document is meant to ensure alignment and interoperability “while also increasing future returns on investment and maximizing decarbonization benefits,” according CALSTART.
I-5 runs roughly 1,380 miles from the Canadian border at Blaine, Washington, to the Mexican border at San Ysidro, California, crossing two international borders and five jurisdictions, each with its own utility interconnection process, permitting path, incentive programs, and equipment standards. Officials committed to harmonizing the technologies along the route as well as the planning behind it.
“Freight corridors are where electrification can deliver real operational value at scale,” said Aravind Kailas, advanced technology policy director at Volvo Group North America. “By aligning charging infrastructure, technical standards, and planning across jurisdictions, the BC2BC initiative can give fleets greater confidence to plan routes, maintain uptime, and make long-term investment decisions.”
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin framed the corridor in trade and cost terms. “With global fuel prices driving up the cost of moving goods, partnerships like this are more critical than ever to strengthen our economies and advance Governor Newsom’s zero-emission transportation goals,” he said.
CalSTA, CALSTART and the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis are coordinating planning and investment for the project. Participating organizations also include Volvo Group North America, Southern California Edison, Tesla, EV Realty, King Fio Trucking, IMC Logistics, and ZM Trucks.
