Houston Autonomous Electric Vehicle Charging Hub

Strategically located between the vibrant Montrose area and the bustling Galleria region of west Houston, this state-of-the-art zero-emission vehicle charging depot is a centralized fleet charging station for zero-emission rideshare and autonomous zero-emission vehicles. This location was chosen to accommodate these neighborhoods' high traffic and demand for environmentally friendly transportation.

Mortenson installed 28 dual-port high-efficiency 180 kW DC Zerova fast chargers as the EPC, creating 55 charging stalls across the site. Our full scope includes erecting five protective canopy structures, installing a modular on-site operations building, security fencing, and building robust low-voltage infrastructure to support data offload, security systems, and communications.

Construction began in Q4 2024 and is scheduled for completion by the end of Q2 2025. The project presented unique engineering challenges due to Houston's distinctive and challenging environmental conditions. The flat, low-lying nature of the site required the installation of an extensive underground stormwater management system. This system, in line with the city of Houston Stormwater Master Plan, occupies nearly the entire site area under the pavement, offering complex construction sequencing challenges. It is designed to collect and recycle stormwater effectively, reducing the project's environmental impact.

Additionally, the existing storm infrastructure proved insufficient to handle the new load, requiring Mortenson to install a large stormwater main that extended 200 feet down the street to connect with suitable existing infrastructure. The project was also complicated by the site's ancient lakebed composition, with heavy, expansive clays that became especially problematic, with Houston receiving 100 days a year on average. Heavy-duty paving concrete was used throughout the site to address the challenging soil conditions.

The project also required installing two electrical services to power the extensive charging infrastructure. Despite the numerous technical and environmental challenges, Mortenson's expertise in complex electrical installations and site development has kept this critical infrastructure project on track to support the growing demand for zero-emission autonomous transportation options in Houston.