Hampton Jitney is taking steps to prepare for the next phase of fleet electrification with a managed microgrid at its Calverton, New York, facility. Developed in partnership with Sprocket Power, the project combines on-site solar generation, battery energy storage, and intelligent energy management software to help the regional transportation provider manage electricity costs while preparing for additional electric vehicle charging capacity.

The installation addresses a growing challenge for commercial fleet operators: electrifying vehicles can create significant new electricity demand, utility expenses, and infrastructure requirements. By generating and storing energy on-site, Hampton Jitney can better manage when it draws power from the grid and how it uses that electricity.

For Sprocket Power CEO/Co-Founder Maria Fields, the project also shows how sophisticated energy infrastructure can be accessible to regional businesses that may lack the resources or in-house expertise of larger corporations.

“Regional transportation providers are often blocked from achieving the economic and resilience benefits of microgrids due to engineering and capital complexity,” Fields said in the company's announcement. “Sprocket Power was founded to close this gap by designing, building, and operating these systems.”

Managing Energy Costs as Fleets Electrify

The Lynch family, which owns Hampton Jitney, launched the project to prepare for future electric-vehicle charging needs and create a more predictable operating-cost structure. The company expects to need about one megawatt of charging capacity in the next phase of its electrification plans.

According to Fields, additional electricity demand from high-powered vehicle charging can significantly increase utility bills, particularly through demand charges — fees based on the highest level of electricity consumption during a billing period.

The microgrid coordinates solar generation, battery storage, vehicle charging, and facility electricity use through a central control system. The system can store electricity when solar production is available or power is less expensive, then discharge the battery during periods of high demand.

The approach can reduce the amount of electricity Hampton Jitney needs to draw from the grid at peak times, helping manage costs without requiring additional grid infrastructure for every increase in charging demand.

“The bigger long-term thing to think about is just how the economics will look over a long-term horizon, because that's really what you're stuck with,” Fields said. “And there's a lot that can be done.”

The system is still being commissioned, but Sprocket Power forecasts that operating costs could decrease by as much as 80% once the planned second phase, including the expanded charging hub, is operational.

The projected savings will come primarily from reducing demand charges associated with high-power charging. The company also says the project is intended to help stabilize long-term energy expenses as Hampton Jitney adds electric vehicles.

For Fields, the key is to treat electrification as a long-term infrastructure and financial planning exercise rather than focusing only on the initial cost of vehicles or available incentives.

“Getting good advice is a key part of it,” she said, explaining that fleet operators need to evaluate their power requirements, utility relationships, technology options, and long-term operating economics before committing to an infrastructure plan.

She added that Hampton Jitney's decision to phase the project illustrates the importance of planning for future demand instead of treating electrification as a single installation.

A Model for Regional Fleet Operators

The Calverton facility is also being positioned for a broader role in regional transportation electrification. The planned second phase would add one MW of dedicated direct-current fast-charging capacity, allowing the site to serve other commercial fleets as they transition to electric vehicles.

Potential users include school systems, commercial transportation providers, and other regional operators that might otherwise face substantial costs and lengthy processes to install their own charging infrastructure.

Fields said the technology can be adapted to different types and sizes of businesses, provided the systems are properly engineered, installed, and integrated with the electric grid.

“We've done projects in auto dealerships, and it's basically the same concept, many of the same technologies, just a little bit sized down or up, depending on what the capacity needs are,” she said.

Adaptability matters for mid-sized operators, which may not have the internal energy-management teams or purchasing power of larger organizations.

“One of the interesting things about this is that it just is taking that same approach and bringing it to a regional business like this,” Fields said. “It's just access to the right expertise and resources to get there.”

Beyond the benefits to Hampton Jitney, the microgrid is designed to provide flexibility to the local electric grid. By storing renewable energy, managing electricity demand and potentially exporting power or participating in grid-service programs, the installation can help utilities address localized capacity constraints.

Fields said customer-sited energy resources offer an alternative to relying solely on traditional grid expansion to meet growing electricity demand.

“I think of them as part of the energy infrastructure in a way, but it's new to think about it that way,” she said. “Hampton Jitney will benefit, but the grid will benefit, the utility will benefit.”

The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 590 metric tons annually, according to Sprocket Power, by reducing diesel consumption and reliance on high-emission power generation during peak periods.

As Hampton Jitney prepares for additional charging capacity, Fields said the project underscores the importance of evaluating both the technology and the economics early in the planning process. Utility capacity, permitting, interconnection, and the timing of future investments can all affect how quickly a fleet can expand its electric operations.

For other transportation providers considering electrification, the Calverton project shows how integrating energy generation, storage, and charging management can address those challenges while preparing for future growth.