Custom Trench Layout Powers Semi-Truck Charging Station

As heavy duty electric fleets scale, infrastructure has to move just as fast. Companies like Terawatt Infrastructure are building high-capacity charging hubs designed specifically for semi-trucks, in addition to sites for passenger vehicles.

In Commerce, California, that meant developing a site where power distribution, access, and future flexibility were all mission critical. Unlike traditional gas fueling, EV charging at this scale requires extensive underground routing to distribute power.

To support this, the project called for an underground trench layout capable of handling today’s electrical demand, tomorrow’s evolving technologies, and the overwhelming weight of fully loaded semi-trucks.

This wasn’t just a typical trench layout. It was a system built to adapt.

The project demanded speed and responsiveness. Design changes were constant, from added access points to ventilation and layout shifts, requiring quick turnarounds from Jensen’s in-house engineering team.

And with the charging hub capable of handling the weight of semi-trucks, every component had to be engineered for performance under AASHTO HL-93 loading conditions.

Jensen Infrastructure designed, engineered, and manufactured a fully custom precast concrete trench system to meet the project’s evolving needs.

The installation included nearly 500’ of trench with sections up to 72” wide, all standardized at 44” in height, and produced in varying lengths. The system also featured a custom T-intersection structure with three openings, allowing the network to branch efficiently across the charging hub.

More than 1,000,000 pounds of precast concrete were supplied, including removable top slabs. These allow crews to easily access internal cables, perform maintenance, and adapt the charging hub over time without excavation.

Jensen’s in house engineering allowed us to quickly respond to design changes and coordinate directly with the contractor, streamlining the entire process.

Additional products included precast parking dividers, which were customized on-site with Terawatt branding.

The result is a scalable trench network that not only supports today’s electric fleet demands but is positioned to evolve alongside the next generation of heavy-duty energy infrastructure.

Got a project coming up you want to chat about? Contact Jensen Infrastructure today.