Mapping It Out: Expanding CALSTART’s National Zero-Emission Truck Infrastructure Map and Looking Ahead to the Future

By Jacob Richard

As the U.S. freight sector continues its transition toward zero-emission trucks (ZETs), the availability and visibility of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure has become one of the most important factors shaping adoption. To help close that gap, CALSTART continuously expands its National Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Infrastructure Map, adding new sites, new analytical layers, and new features for fleets and stakeholders to understand where the charging and refueling network is today and where it is heading.

The latest update adds 64 new electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling sites, bringing the map to approximately 162 total facilities across 17 states. In total, the tool now reflects about 1,500 charging plugs and 32 hydrogen refueling nozzles available for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles across public, semi-public, and shared locations.

Beyond expanding coverage, CALSTART is also deepening what the map can actually do.

A map designed specifically for zero-emission trucks

Unlike general EV infrastructure tools, CALSTART’s map is built specifically for commercial freight vehicles: Class 2b through Class 8 trucks. These are commercial vehicles weighing more than 8,500 pounds, primarily those used to haul freight, with a particular focus on Class 6-8 trucks.

As CALSTART Technical Project Manager Jacob Richard explains, the goal is to provide a centralized and accurate picture of the nation’s growing ZET infrastructure network.

“This map outlines publicly available infrastructure for ZETs across the United States. Its goal is to provide those interested with a complete picture of current and future stations in the space, targeted mainly for fleet operators so they can quickly find stations near their depot or on their route that they can access. This transparency allows them to make informed decisions on zero-emission truck acquisition and route planning.”

The focus on trucks rather than passenger vehicles is what sets the map apart. Richard describes it as “the PlugShare for ZETs,” but with an important distinction: the infrastructure featured on the map is specifically designed to cater to the operational realities of commercial fleets.

The tool tracks information that matters to freight operators, including whether fleets can domicile vehicles overnight, sites offer pull-through space for trailers, and stations are designed to accommodate larger commercial vehicles. Every station is also quality-checked to ensure it is truly accessible for zero-emission truck use.

“We regularly work with the infrastructure providers to keep this map up to date,” Richard said. “Fleets need to know what charging or refueling stations are out there so that they can make informed decisions about acquiring zero-emission trucks for their fleet. We make sure that every station is quality-checked to be accessible for zero-emission trucks. Every station listed is available for fleets to use with confidence, and this is the only centralized map that truly provides that.”

Built for fleets, useful across the industry

For fleets specifically, the map provides a practical way to evaluate operational readiness for electrification. Users can enter a truck domicile address or a location along a planned route, set a search radius, and identify charging or refueling stations within a reasonable operating distance. Many stations also include contact information, allowing fleets to reach out directly to operators and potentially coordinate charging access or reserve stalls.

And while fleets are the primary users, the map is also designed to support a much broader group of stakeholders across the clean transportation ecosystem. Policymakers, utilities, OEMs, nonprofits, and infrastructure developers can all use the tool to better understand where charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure exists today and where additional investment or planning may be needed.

The updated map reflects the uneven but accelerating development of zero-emission freight infrastructure across the country. Some corridors, such as I-5 and I-10, are seeing rapid infrastructure expansion, while others, including I-80 and I-95, remain in earlier planning stages.

According to Richard, much of that development is driven by where fleets and demand already exist.

“Infrastructure developers go to where the demand for ZETs is. Right now, CA has done a great job of creating a good ZET ecosystem that has allowed fleets to deploy more ZETs than any other state. This has provided infrastructure providers with a strong signal to invest in corridors in their region.”

The map’s new features are intended to help users better understand not only today’s infrastructure landscape, but how that landscape may evolve in the years ahead.

New additions include a phasing-in strategy overlay that compares current charging availability with the projected buildout outlined in CALSTART’s Phasing in U.S. Charging Infrastructure Strategy. The map also now includes grid-capacity scenario layers showing projected peak load in 2026, 2030, and 2035 under both managed and unmanaged charging scenarios. These layers highlight where charging demand may create greater pressure on the grid and where additional planning or investment could become necessary.

Michael Joseph, CALSTART Program Manager for Corridor Planning and lead author of the charging infrastructure strategy, said the updated map is about more than simply locating chargers.

“This isn’t just a map of available ports; it’s a map of progress towards publicly available charging, which the industry needs to transition. The most detailed and accurate map available with features specific to trucking, it provides fleets and shippers with the confidence that these solutions will work for their evolving needs. Fleets and shippers can also use it to shift plans to electrify sooner: They can connect with a public site developer to use their site if their own depot facilities are hampered by utility delays.”

Supporting the next phase of zero-emission freight

The expansion of CALSTART’s infrastructure map aligns with broader industry findings outlined in the organization’s latest Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks report, as well as external research such as the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s Pathways to Zero-Emission Freight report.

Together, these efforts reinforce the need for coordinated action across infrastructure deployment, policy, utility planning, and fleet adoption if the industry is to scale zero-emission freight transportation nationwide. Richard points to four major areas that will be critical to accelerating adoption: improving the business case for fleets, streamlining infrastructure buildout, maintaining strong and aligned policy support, and continuing education and outreach across the zero-emission transportation ecosystem.

As infrastructure deployment accelerates and more data becomes available, CALSTART expects the map to continue evolving alongside the industry itself. For fleets navigating the transition to zero-emission transportation, tools like this are becoming increasingly important; not only for understanding where infrastructure exists today, but for helping shape where the industry goes next.

Check out the map.