MN8 announces ‘first-of-its kind’ freight EV charging hub

Rendering: Dattner Architects

New York City-based renewable energy company MN8 Energy announced the Gateway to Hunts Point Food Distribution Center (FDC) project, a transformative freight electric vehicle charging hub and workforce development center in the South Bronx. The facility will feature 42 electric vehicle (EV) charging plugs designed specifically for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, a welcome center and workforce development hub called “The Bolt” and a planned community solar installation.

The facility will serve the Hunts Point FDC, the nation’s largest wholesale food hub, which currently sees over 15,000 daily truck trips delivering fresh meat, fish and produce to the New York City metropolitan area. The charging infrastructure includes:

• 32 DC fast charging plugs ranging from 180 – 360 kW
• 10 Level 2 EV charging plugs
• e-bike and e-scooter charging stations
• A future-proofed design to accommodate additional and higher-powered chargers to meet growing demand

The Gateway to Hunts Point project is projected to deliver significant environmental benefits. These include the reduction of over 66,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions between 2029 and 2039 and the elimination of hundreds of thousands of pounds of criteria air pollutants.

The project specifically addresses barriers that prevent smaller fleets from adopting electric vehicles:

• Discounted charging rates for Food Distribution Center tenants
• Fleet transition planning support and grant navigation assistance
• Flexible trial periods for fleets testing electrification
• 24/7 customer support and 99%+ uptime guarantee

The project is expected to begin construction in 2027, with operations planned to commence by 2029. The facility will be accessible 24/7 and include advanced reservation systems, mobile app integration, and comprehensive customer support.