3 Takeaways from Renewable Properties’ Central California Fleet Electrification Event

Industry leaders, fleet managers, and regional officials gathered in Santa Maria in April to address the practical challenges of fleet electrification across California's Central Coast. Hosted at the future Renewable Properties' Santa Maria Regional EV Fleet Charging Hub, the event brought together key stakeholders to share real-world experiences and explore collaborative infrastructure solutions.

Regional Collaboration Drives Infrastructure Development

Renewable Properties and The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) organized the event in partnership with the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5), creating a forum where public and private entities could connect on shared electrification challenges.

Attendees participated in a guided EV charging and infrastructure tour, panel discussions with experienced fleet operators, and an EV vehicle showcase featuring vehicles currently in service with FedEx and the City of Santa Maria, and Santa Maria Regional Transit.

Takeaway #1: California has many incentives and resources for fleet transition

The event featured several presenters who outlined available funding pathways for fleets considering electrification:

• Brian Rand from Cal Fleet Advisors detailed two programs:
  • California's Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), which provides direct rebates for EV purchases.
  • The Innovative Small e-Fleet (ISEF) initiative was highlighted as particularly valuable for smaller operations, offering flexible funding models beyond traditional purchase options

• Craig Castro from PG&E also described new advisory services specifically designed for fleet customers planning transitions within a five-year window
  Alex Economou from SBCAPCD encouraged fleet managers to engage with local California air districts, which can provide regional funding options and streamline permitting processes

Takeaway #2: Plan and permit your EV charging infrastructure. Build before you buy.

The event featured candid accounts from early adopter fleet managers already operating electric vehicles:

David Giesmann, Fleet Services Supervisor for Santa Maria, and Victor Sanchez, an Independent Service Provider for FedEx Ground, shared practical insights from their electrification journeys. Both emphasized:

• Start early with utilities and site planning — power upgrades can take longer than expected.
• Level 2 charging remains the workhorse for overnight fleet operations.
• EV technician shortages are real — service support needs to be part of any purchasing decision.
• Infrastructure before delivery — don’t let your trucks outpace your chargers.

Their firsthand experiences underscored the need for thorough planning and realistic timelines when transitioning conventional fleets to electric alternatives.

Takeaway #3: Consider New Services that offer shared EV charging hubs

While constructing new EV charging stations and hubs is complex and has early adopter challenges, California fleet managers have new options that can streamline the process.

Renewable Properties is part of a new service trend that offers charging-as-a-service hubs. At the Santa Maria event, Renewable Properties’ Jeff Palmer and Richard Raeke described how businesses and municipalities can benefit from a shared EV charging hub that eliminates the permitting, interconnection, and site development challenges for new fleet operators.

As part of their presentation, Jeff and Richard presented the plans for a shared-use EV fleet charging hub that Renewable Properties is building in Santa Maria, California and expected to be operational by 2026. The Santa Maria facility has been designed to serve multiple fleet types—municipal, delivery, and transit—through a common infrastructure platform.

"We're building these hubs to help fleets pilot electric operations before they make major capital investments," Palmer explained during the session. The model addresses a critical gap in the current infrastructure landscape by providing access to charging facilities without requiring individual fleet operators to develop their own sites.

As policy requirements and incentive structures continue to evolve, shared infrastructure models may provide an important bridge for fleets exploring electrification but not yet ready for complete infrastructure commitment.

The event moderator Sydney Rouse of C5/SBCAPCD emphasized the importance of connectivity among stakeholders: "Events like this help fleets understand that they're not alone. There's a growing network of public and private partners ready to help them navigate this transition."

In addition to the Santa Maria location, Renewable Properties is now developing fleet EV charging locations in:

• Bakersfield
• Fresno
• Lancaster
• Oakland
• Richmond
• San Bernardino
• San Jose, and
• Vacaville

If you’re considering building an EV charging station for your California EV fleets, contact RP for a free consultation with our EV charging experts.