ElectricFish to electrify fleet operations in Detroit’s Eastern Market, as part of Sustainable Cities Challenge

DETROIT, MI — ElectricFish, a leader in advanced, resilient EV charging infrastructure, has been selected as a Finalist innovator in the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s global Sustainable Cities Challenge in partnership with the City of Detroit, Eastern Market, and Challenge Works. The recognition highlights ElectricFish’s breakthrough 350Squared system, a battery-integrated, ultra-fast EV charging solution designed to overcome critical barriers to widespread EV adoption, particularly for fleet operators and infrastructure developers facing challenges with long deployment times, grid limitations, and high costs.

Unlike traditional installations that can take 12-18 months or longer due to complex permitting, trenching, and utility upgrades, the 350Squared system can be commissioned in as little as 3 weeks. This rapid deployment capability, proven to be up to 100 times faster and 90% cheaper than conventional methods in pilot projects, directly addresses the urgent needs of urban planning and development leaders as well as fleet operators focused on scaling EV infrastructure efficiently and reliably.

ElectricFish will lead deployment of its breakthrough 350Squared™ system in Detroit’s Eastern Market, one of the country’s most iconic food logistics hubs. The project will center on the Market’s Shed 5, where it will serve zero-emissions freight and public EV charging with resilient backup capabilities, and perform intelligent energy management to support a vital district poised to help lead Detroit into a sustainable future. 

“Eastern Market has nourished Detroit for over a century. Our technology helps future-proof it for the next one,” said Anurag Kamal, CEO and co-founder of ElectricFish. “We’re honored to partner with the Toyota Mobility Foundation and City of Detroit to electrify this critical community hub—faster, cheaper, and smarter than conventional infrastructure ever could.”

Accelerating Clean Freight in a Critical Urban Food Hub

ElectricFish’s solution is uniquely positioned to overcome grid bottlenecks limiting freight fleet electrification. Its 350Squared^TM units combine ultra-fast EV charging (up to 350 kW), battery energy storage (up to 400 kWh), and AI-driven load shifting – all in a modular system that installs in weeks, not years. At Detroit’s Eastern Market, the system will:

• Enable quick top-up charging for electric box trucks and delivery vans without grid upgrades or trenching
• Offer public EV fast charging access serving Eastern Market’s 30,000+ visitors on weekends alone
• Provide intelligent energy management and resilient backup capabilities for fast charging and local onsite loads at Shed 5
• Avoid 25,000+ lbs CO₂e/month in idling emissions from diesel trucks, equivalent to filling all of Ford Field

Vince Keenan, Head of Innovation Engagement for the Office of Mobility Innovation for the City of Detroit, said:  “ElectricFish’s portable charger will put a fast charging option into the hands of market growers and freight operators without the expensive buildout that can double or triple the cost of adoption. We’re excited to see ElectricFish’s technology in action and to show the world how Detroit continues to lead the future of mobility and clean freight.”

The project builds on a successful ElectricFish deployment with local utility DTE and union organization IBEW Local 58 in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, which reduced peak load, enabled renewable integration, and discharged energy back to the grid—achieving 100x faster installation and 90% lower capex than traditional fast chargers.

“Fleet operators have been caught in an impossible cycle – they can’t electrify without charging infrastructure, but infrastructure developers won’t invest without guaranteed utilization. Our innovative approach breaks that cycle by deploying infrastructure as quickly as vehicles can be delivered,” said Vince Wong, COO and co-founder of ElectricFish.

A Blueprint for Resilient Cities

ElectricFish’s work in Detroit exemplifies how electrification can be delivered at speed and scale, especially in cities working towards grid modernization. The company is creating a replicable model for electrifying food logistics and freight corridors in urban environments nationwide.

As part of the Sustainable Cities Challenge, ElectricFish will lead the development and deployment of their mission-critical technology, gather real-world usage data, and prepare for scaling its technology across other logistics hubs in the U.S. and globally.