National City Mayor Raises Concerns Over Electric Truck Charging Hub

The Port of San Diego plans to build a major electric truck charging station, but the mayor argues the project's location poses safety risks.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:21am

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A photorealistic studio still life of a large, heavy-duty electric semi-truck battery pack with exposed terminals and cooling fins, floating on a clean, monochromatic background and using dramatic lighting to convey the abstract risks and challenges of integrating electric vehicle infrastructure into urban environments.A high-tech electric truck battery pack symbolizes the complex safety and infrastructure challenges facing the integration of zero-emission commercial vehicles in dense urban areas.National City Today

The Port of San Diego is planning to build a major electric truck charging hub in National City, but Mayor Ron Morrison is raising concerns about the project's location and potential safety risks. Morrison argues the proposal is being rushed and that the environmental impact report fails to fully account for the risks a charging station could bring to surrounding residents, including the strain a potential lithium-battery fire could place on city resources.

Why it matters

The proposed electric truck charging hub is part of the Port of San Diego's efforts to support the growing use of electric vehicles in the area and reduce diesel truck traffic and pollution. However, the mayor's concerns highlight the potential challenges of siting such infrastructure in densely populated urban areas.

The details

The proposed hub on Tidelands Avenue would include 70 charging ports for electric semi-trucks. Skycharger, the company selected to build the stations, plans to include security measures, a convenience store, solar and battery storage systems, and public green space. The Port of San Diego recently completed an environmental impact report, finding the project would have no significant impacts. However, Mayor Morrison argues the EIR fails to fully account for the risks, including the wear and tear on local infrastructure and the need for the fire department and other emergency response units to be better equipped to handle a potential lithium-battery fire.

  • The Port of San Diego recently completed an environmental impact report on the proposed project.
  • The public review period for the EIR was from January 29 to March 16, 2026.
  • The Port plans to present the Final EIR, Coastal Development Permit, and Draft Lease to the Board of Port Commissioners in the coming months for their consideration.

The players

Port of San Diego

The government agency that oversees the Port of San Diego and is planning to build the electric truck charging hub in National City.

Ron Morrison

The mayor of National City who is raising concerns about the proposed electric truck charging hub and its potential safety risks.

Skycharger

The company selected by the Port of San Diego to build the electric truck charging stations.

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What they’re saying

“They need to start this process over. This one does not make any sense where they're placing it. An 18-wheeler is basically a large mobile lithium power bank. Anything that happens, an electrical problem, an accident, a malfunction, we've got to start evacuating National City.”

— Ron Morrison, Mayor of National City

“There's the wear and tear on the roads, because the e-trucks are going to be heavier. The battery, it increases the weight of the truck by 1/3. We're going to have to have our fire department and our response units; they're going to have to beef up. We're going to have to buy more equipment. We're the insurance policy if something happens here.”

— Ron Morrison, Mayor of National City

What’s next

The Port of San Diego said its staff is evaluating the comments received during the review period and will prepare responses to be included in the Final EIR presented to the Board of Port Commissioners. That presentation will occur during a public Board meeting in the coming months, where the public will be able to provide additional comments. The Board will also consider a Coastal Development Permit and draft lease.

The takeaway

The proposed electric truck charging hub highlights the challenges of siting critical infrastructure in densely populated urban areas. While the project aims to support the transition to electric vehicles and reduce emissions, the mayor's concerns about safety risks and the strain on local resources underscore the need for thorough planning and community engagement to address potential impacts.