Family Laundry installs solar-powered EV charging to cut costs and advance equitable climate action
Family Laundry, a family-owned wash-and-fold service in Oakland’s San Antonio neighborhood, has installed solar panels, battery storage, and EV charging infrastructure that will power its growing fleet of delivery vans. The system supports 17 EVs and integrates renewable energy generation directly on site.
The $1 million project was supported by the Bay Area Air District, PG&E, Pacific Community Ventures (PCV), the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), and technology partner Port Power. In a unique collaboration, the chargers will also be shared with Community Kitchens, an Oakland nonprofit delivering meals to unhoused residents and low-income families.
“This project represents the kind of innovative partnership Oakland needs to meet our climate goals,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. “By reducing operational costs for organizations serving our most vulnerable residents, we enable them to expand the essential work our community depends on.”
The effort supports Oakland’s Equitable Climate Action Plan and Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan, which prioritize climate benefits alongside public health and economic equity.
Family Laundry selected Port Power’s “Depot in a Box”—a modular system combining charging hardware, solar integration, energy management, and microgrid functionality. The setup allows solar energy collected during the day to charge vehicles overnight, providing energy resilience while protecting against rising fuel and utility costs.
According to the company, switching to electric delivery vans powered by solar energy cuts carbon emissions by about 8 metric tons of CO₂ per vehicle each year. It also reduces the cost per mile from $0.40 to $0.25, with further savings projected to reach $0.05 per mile once solar charging is fully optimized—an annual reduction of roughly $10,000 per vehicle.
PCV’s Climate Resilience Fund provided financing to help Family Laundry realize the project. “Our goal is to empower small businesses to participate in the emerging climate economy,” said Bulbul Gupta, CEO of PCV. “Affordable, flexible loans can help them undertake projects that create jobs and strengthen communities.”
Additional support came from the Bay Area Air District’s grant for two DC fast chargers and 15 Level 2 ports. LACI extended funding to include Community Kitchens’ participation, broadening community benefit.
Port Power’s model addresses one of the major barriers to fleet electrification—lengthy and costly utility upgrades—by offering integrated systems that can be deployed rapidly. “Our solutions make it possible for smaller operators to electrify without years of delay,” said Nadav Gur, Port Power’s founder.
Family Laundry’s co-owner David Macquart-Moulin said the decision was practical as well as environmental:
“Going electric makes financial sense. We’re saving substantial money now, but it took guidance and partnership to make a project like this possible.”
Oakland is home to nearly 500 registered medium- and heavy-duty fleets, many of which serve local industries from food delivery to construction. Projects like Family Laundry’s demonstrate that electrification can reduce operating costs, strengthen resilience, and deliver tangible environmental and community benefits.
As Acting Sustainability Director Shayna Hirshfield-Gold noted,
“Lasting climate and justice work can only happen with community and business leadership. Investments like this help us build the equitable green economy Oakland envisions.”
