Warehouse developers see electric-vehicle chargers spark demand

There is increasing attention to charging infrastructure as truck and automobile manufacturers use more of their Manufacturing efforts to develop electric vehicles end, Additionally, battery manufacturers are expanding their research as they seek to create lighter power sources that could allow vehicles to travel longer distances before being recharged. Still, most of the investment so far has been in the charging infrastructure. focused on passenger cars instead of commercial trucks.

The high stakes involved in shipping operations, where unexpected or prolonged downtimes for charging can disrupt the supply chain, are prompting more companies to seek solutions of their own.

“In almost all of our deals,” said Aaron Malitzky, executive vice president of DH Property Holdings LLC, “tenants are looking at “how many EV charging stations can be found in the building.” New York-based industrial real-estate developer’s clients include e-commerce giant

Amazon.Com Inc.

And

TJX

Cos., parent company of discount retail chain TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshals.

Darren Epps, Senior Director of Advanced Vehicle Technology

rider system Inc.,

The company, which manages the trucking fleet and logistics for the companies, said his team has received more questions this year about electric vehicles and charging stations. He said he believes higher diesel prices have prompted more customers to switch to electric.

“We have some genuinely knowledgeable customers who say, ‘Electricity prices are pretty stable, and diesel prices are not.’ There’s a little more peace of mind,” said Mr. Epps.

Still in the parcel-delivery van increased the most in the commercial electric-vehicle fleet. However, there are manufacturers of larger rigs. Developing technology for heavy duty trucksAdding pressure to charge infrastructure.

GE Appliances, a subsidiary of home appliance company Haier, has installed EV chargers at its distribution sites as part of a plan to switch to electric freight vehicles. Sweden’s autonomous-truck startup Einride AB. manufactured by To transport goods such as refrigerators and cooking products between its manufacturing facilities and warehouses in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The trucks, which have a range of 200 miles per charge, will run local routes instead of long-distance trips, said Harry Chase, senior director of central materials at GE Appliances.

“So we always have that charger that we set up nearby,” Mr Chase said.

However, installing chargers in warehouses introduces new costs and complications to distribution operations.

Warehouses typically do not have on-site refueling stations because truckers can typically refuel diesel at an extensive network of truckstops and gas stations across the country. Adding charging capabilities means ensuring that there is enough power and space available for trucks and vans to charge without disrupting freight operations.

DH Property’s vice president and head of development Michael Bennett said lots of surface space needs to be segregated, permits must be secured and a building’s electricity must be upgraded to meet charging demands.

“It means some advance decision [are] Hopefully the building is built during construction, because otherwise it becomes really difficult,” Mr Bennett said.

GE Appliances is trying to address some of the charging complications by ordering a so-called fast charger, which can power a battery in less than an hour for a delivery van and two to three hours for a tractor, ensuring doing that the vehicles can be back in motion. Relatively quick compared to the typical charger, requiring at least six hours to reload the van’s battery.

However, that capability comes with supply-chain challenges. “We ordered some chargers nine months ago, I want to say. We just got them a week ago,” Mr. Chase said.

write to Liz Young at liz.young@wsj.com