A New Approach to Keep Trucks Moving: Infrastructure as a Service
Picture a busy trucking hub at daybreak. Dozens of electric trucks lined up, plugged into high-powered chargers between shifts. Behind the scenes, teams monitor grid connections, fix issues in real time, and make sure every vehicle rolls out ready for the next route.
This is the world of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) — a model that’s reshaping how fleets, developers, and utilities plan and manage electrification.
What “Infrastructure as a Service” Means in Trucking
The “as a Service” model is transforming how fleets access equipment, power, and infrastructure:
Charging as a Service (CaaS): Providers own, operate, and maintain the chargers. Fleets simply pay for energy use — by the kilowatt-hour, per session, or subscription — and avoid the hassle of managing complex charging equipment. This model is ideal for fleets still in the pilot phase or that are interested and able to manage development and ongoing operations.
Trucking as a Service (TaaS): Fleets subscribe to trucks, maintenance, and telematics rather than owning the vehicles outright. It shifts costs from CapEx to OpEx and helps fleets scale electric operations faster.
Electric trucks charging at Forum Mobility’s FM Harbor depot — where fleets access trucks and charging infrastructure as a service.
Charging Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): The layer beneath it all. IaaS providers secure and entitle land, design and build grid connections, and operate ready-to-use charging depots that power TaaS and CaaS models alike.
Together, these approaches make electrification simpler, faster, and less risky—giving fleets access to reliable, affordable power without having to build or maintain complex infrastructure.
Simplicity and Reliability, Delivered as a Service
For most fleets, electrification can feel like entering a different business. Suddenly, they’re navigating land use, power studies, permits, and grid connections — not exactly the day-to-day of moving freight.
IaaS removes two of the biggest barriers to fleet electrification: cost and complexity. Instead of spending millions on land, permits, and infrastructure, fleets can operate from day one with stable, usage-based fees. Smaller carriers gain access to top-tier facilities that were once out of reach, leveling the playing field across the industry.
Instead of building charging hubs from scratch – a process that can take years and requires juggling engineers, contractors, landlords, state and local agencies, and utilities – fleets are partnering with specialized IaaS providers that handle it all. IaaS providers deliver fully developed, energized sites built specifically for commercial charging. Fleets simply plug in and start operating, paying predictable fees instead of tying up capital or staff in construction, permitting, or maintenance.
Different Models for Different Needs
No two fleets run the same way, and neither should their charging. IaaS providers offer a range of depot models to match fleets’ operational needs:
Public depots function like truck stops, open to any driver who needs to charge.
Greenlane’s Colton, California, site is a high-powered public charging hub next to one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors.
Private depots sit behind the fence, often on or near a fleet’s own property, offering control, security, and reliability for dedicated operations.
Located in one of the country’s most active logistics hubs, Voltera’s facility in Lynwood, California, is purpose-built for private fleets.
Shared depots split the difference. Multiple fleets charge at a single, secure site with reserved access. This model simplifies operations, provides dependable power, and helps optimize utilization as adoption grows.
EV Realty’s multi-fleet charging hub in San Bernardino includes 76 fast-charge bays and 9.9 MW of power for regional logistics fleets.
These models reflect a broader shift toward flexibility — meeting fleets where they are rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution. But all depend on one critical factor: timely, reliable access to electricity.
Making Electricity Work for Fleets
Powering a yard full of electric trucks isn’t like plugging in a few cars. A single heavy-duty charger can draw as much power as a grocery store — and a full depot can rival a small town. Connecting that kind of load requires studies, permits, and sometimes entirely new grid infrastructure.
IaaS providers make electricity work for fleets — even before permanent grid power is ready. They coordinate early with utilities to plan upgrades and secure long-term capacity, while deploying temporary power solutions such as mobile batteries, generators, or microgrids to keep operations running in the meantime.
This approach ensures fleets can start charging on schedule, rather than waiting years for traditional utility timelines to catch up. IaaS providers handle interconnection, manage site-wide power capacity, and design systems that can scale as demand grows — keeping trucks moving while the grid catches up.
At Prologis’ Denker Hub in Torrance, California, a self-sufficient microgrid supplies reliable, high-powered charging. It’s a model for how distributed energy systems and flexible power strategies can bridge today’s utility constraints and support fleet operations from day one.
Why It Matters
Fleet electrification is happening now, but scaling it will require smarter, more flexible infrastructure models. Infrastructure as a Service offers that foundation — removing cost and complexity, reducing risk, and giving fleets the confidence to electrify at scale.
Charging Infrastructure as a Service isn’t just a new business model — it’s a practical way to keep trucks moving and goods flowing while building the backbone of a cleaner, more resilient transportation system.
This content was informed by PACT members from EV Realty and Forum Mobility.
