NATIONAL CITY (KGTV) — 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.
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 on air quality, traffic, noise, or public safety. The Port stated the charging station is needed due to an increase in electric trucks in the area, and will help cut diesel truck traffic and pollution in National City and nearby neighborhoods.
Morrison argues the proposal is being rushed and that the EIR fails to fully account for the risks a charging station could bring to surrounding residents.
"They need to start this process over," Morrison said. "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."
Morrison said he is also concerned about the impact on local infrastructure and the strain a potential lithium-battery fire could place on city resources.
"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," Morrison said. "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."
The Port of San Diego said that because the EIR found no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed project, it's planning to move forward with Skycharger and begin firming up designs, contracts, permits and more.
Next steps: the Port said its staff is evaluating the comments it received during the review period (from January 29 to March 16, 2026) 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. The public is welcome to attend that meeting and provide additional comments.
The Board will also consider a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) and draft lease.
Staff intends to bring the Final EIR, CDP, and Draft Lease to the same Board hearing for their consideration.
In the meantime, Skycharger and Port staff continue to conduct stakeholder and public outreach to help provide information about the proposed project, answer questions, and to collect any additional feedback that may help inform the Board’s decision on whether to proceed with the project.
This Saturday, April 4th, during the grand re-opening of Pepper Park, the Port and Skycharger will set up a table to gather public input on the project and its potential impacts. Morrison is urging the community to participate.
Morrison said, "I asked the hard questions. Don't just take, you know, the fluff that's being thrown out there."
