Driving the Future of Clean Freight: Inside the eTRUC Advanced Transportation Research Center (ATRC)

As the transportation sector accelerates toward a zero-emissions future, heavy-duty trucks present unique electrification challenges. Their size, energy demands, and rigorous operational schedules make them more complex to electrify than passenger vehicles – yet they are among the most critical to strengthen energy independence and more sustainable freight systems. Importantly, their intensive duty cycles not only amplify the impact of electrification but also offer a more favorable return on investment, making them a strategic priority for both sustainability and cost-efficiency.  

The Advanced Transportation Research Center (ATRC) is accelerating the deployment of zero-emission freight technologies at its state-of-the-art testing facility. Launched in May 2025 by EPRI and CALSTART with funding support from the California Energy Commission (CEC), the ATRC is part of the broader Electric Truck Research and Utilization Center (eTRUC) initiative located within Southern California Edison’s (SCE) High-Power Charging Lab at the Electric Vehicle Technical Center (EVTC) in Pomona, California. Designed to advance transportation electrification, the eTRUC initiative focuses on deploying high-power charging infrastructure along key freight corridors. 

Heavy-duty electric trucks are pushing the boundaries of sustainable freight, but charging remains a significant hurdle. Most commercial EVs charge at around 360 kW, a rate suitable for passenger vehicles but insufficient for the demands of long-haul trucking. To scale electric freight and reduce costly downtime, megawatt (MW)-level charging is essential. 

The eTRUC initiative is a collaborative, purpose-built effort to test and validate MW-level charging systems for Class 7 and 8 battery-electric trucks, particularly along key freight corridors. The ATRC’s high-power testing environment is designed to evaluate changing systems, shorten development timelines, and inform future standards for MW-level charging, representing a key step towards zero-emissions freight solutions. These advancements aim to enable faster fleet charging, minimizing downtime on the road without compromising operational efficiency.  

ATRC’s full suite of testing resources includes:  

• System-level functional and grid integration testing 

• Commercial test instruments designed for the SAE J1772 Combined Charging System (CCS) standards 

• Testing and validation of heavy-duty vehicles and their charging systems using the CCS connector 

• Hardware-in-the-loop testing 

• Instruments and resources to support 1 MW of charging 

Keysight Technologies, under contract to EPRI on the eTRUC project, is also supporting the launch of the Advanced Transportation Research Center by supplying its Megawatt Charging Test Solution, in addition to the Charging Discovery System, AC/DC emulators, and standards-compliant test software. These technologies enable testing at MW levels, facilitating faster innovation in heavy-duty electric vehicle infrastructure and ensuring greater interoperability across systems. 

Now open to external users, the ATRC welcomes third-party access from manufacturers, utilities, and engineers through a vetted application process. Interested applicants can submit an intake form through the eTRUC website.  

How to access and use the lab, step by step:  

• Step 1: Submit an intake application (available for download here). Submit completed form to [email protected]  

• Step 2: Intake application review – 2-3 weeks  

• Step 3: Contracting phase – 3-5 weeks 

• Step 4: Safety training and onboarding – 1 week  

• Step 5: Scheduling lab access – 1-2 weeks  

By offering access to cutting-edge testing capabilities, the ATRC empowers the industry to develop and refine the next generation of charging technologies. This includes the ability to test earlier in the development process, enabling greater rigor and confidence – all within a secure, safe, and confidential test environment. Strong collaboration among industry, government, and research institutions has fueled the lab's progress in building a scalable, reliable, and high-power charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles.  

Beyond the ATRC, the eTRUC initiative is also supporting pilot demonstration sites in Ontario and Carson, California. These sites will provide real-world data on the performance and business case for high-power charging infrastructure, helping shape future deployment strategies and technical standards.  

Whether you're a truck manufacturer, a charging equipment manufacturer, a utility, or a systems engineer, the lab provides a unique opportunity to test at scale, reduce development timelines, and contribute to shaping the standards that will drive clean freight technologies forward.  

Access is currently available at no cost for a limited time. Visit the official eTRUC website to apply and learn more about the eTRUC Advanced Transportation Research Center.