As the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) gains momentum, rural electric cooperatives (co-ops) face growing pressure to plan for the infrastructure that will support them. Strategic site selection is one of the most important and most challenging parts of the planning process, as charger placement can make the difference between a valuable, well-used asset or an underutilized investment.
For rural co-ops, where service territories are geographically large and sparsely populated, poor siting can lead to unnecessary infrastructure upgrades, higher costs, and stranded assets. Well-placed chargers can help avoid expensive system expansion, increase grid flexibility, and deliver economic and environmental value to the communities they serve.
To reduce capital costs and accelerate deployment, co-ops should prioritize high-value locations, such as freight corridors, fleet depots, school bus yards, and public works facilities places, where vehicles have consistent dwell times and existing electrical infrastructure, particularly 3-phase power. For rural co-ops, this means placing chargers along major freight routes, near fleet depots, or in school transportation hubs, and choosing sites with available capacity to avoid expensive grid upgrades.
Co-ops should also coordinate with state DOTs, local planning agencies, and fleet operators to align siting with broader electrification goals.
Co-ops can apply the following smart siting tactics to ensure charging infrastructure is cost-effective, well-utilized, and aligned with community needs:
- Use GIS tools to overlay fleet routes, grid capacity, and incentive zones.
- Prioritize sites with existing 3-phase power to reduce costs.
- Engage community stakeholders early to identify beneficial locations.
The best sites serve the vehicle, the grid, and the community. By using data-driven methods and proactive coordination, co-ops can make charging infrastructure a strategic asset rather than a reactive expense.
📄 Learn more in our full report, where we outline the challenges and opportunities, best practices, and recommendations that can help co-ops succeed.
📢 Stay tuned for upcoming blogs in this series! Each will take a deeper dive into a different area of the report.
Questions? Email us at: margarita.parra@cleanenergyworks.org and lidiya.kassahun@cleanenergyworks.org
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