Family Laundry, a family-owned business in Oakland’s San Antonio neighborhood, has completed the installation of solar panels, battery storage, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at its facility. The project enables the company to charge up to 17 electric vans using solar power. Partners involved in the $1 million project include Bay Area Air District, PG&E, Pacific Community Ventures (PCV), Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), and Port Power.
The new EV chargers are also available to Community Kitchens, an Oakland nonprofit that operates an all-electric refrigerated delivery van for food distribution across the city. By sharing this infrastructure, Community Kitchens can reduce operational costs and improve reliability as it provides meals to unhoused residents and low-income families.
City officials highlighted how this initiative supports Oakland’s Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP) and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Action Plan. These plans focus on promoting local business health and environmental justice through climate action measures.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee stated: “This project represents the kind of innovative partnership Oakland needs to meet our climate goals. I want to thank Family Laundry and Port Power for making it a reality, particularly the decision to extend charging access to Community Kitchens. That choice demonstrates what Oakland is fundamentally about: ensuring that those most in need of investment are included in our climate transition. By reducing operational costs for organizations serving our most vulnerable residents, we enable them to expand the essential work our community depends on. This project proves that when Oakland’s businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies work together, a just transition to a green and equitable economy isn’t merely aspirational- it’s within reach.”
Family Laundry adopted Port Power’s “Depot in a Box,” which integrates charging hardware with energy management software and site automation. This system supports 17 charging ports powered by solar energy stored in batteries. It also allows for overnight charging using daytime solar collection.
Shayna Hirshfield-Gold, Acting Sustainability Director for Oakland, commented: “Oakland’s landmark Equitable Climate Action Plan put us on a path to climate neutrality by 2045, eliminating fossil fuels in buildings by 2040, and leading with justice. The recently-adopted Economic Development Action Plan provides the roadmap to strengthen Oakland businesses and invest in climate-positive work that serves our community. Lasting climate and justice work can only happen with community and business leadership – and for that to happen robustly, we need investment and support. I want to thank the investors and funders who enabled this project, as well as Family Laundry, Community Kitchens, and Port Power for their vision, focus on the community, and commitment to equitable climate action.”
Port Power designed the technical aspects of the installation while funding was provided by Bay Area Air District—who awarded Family Laundry a grant for two DC fast charging ports plus 15 Level 2 ports—and other partners including LACI and PCV’s Climate Resilience Fund.
Bulbul Gupta, CEO of PCV said: “PCV’s Climate Resilience Mobilization Fund envisions a future that centers the power and wealth-building potential of the climate economy within historically underestimated communities that have been denied access for too long. Our aim is to bridge the gap and empower small businesses to undertake projects they would otherwise be unable to pursue.”
Family Laundry currently operates six electric vans with plans to grow its fleet further over three years. The business employs more than 30 people at locations across Oakland’s San Antonio and Fruitvale neighborhoods.
David Macquart-Moulin, co-owner of Family Laundry said: “Going electric it makes financial sense, otherwise we wouldn’t do it. We are saving drastic amounts of a lot of money now, but a project of this size this really felt impossible when we started. We relied on a lot of partners to help guide us through. Family Laundry is not only expanding its capacity to serve more customers but is also setting an example for sustainable practices in the service industry.”
Nadav Gur from Port Power added: “it’s that guidance that helps these projects pencil out. We can help these businesses afford the investment and save money. Business solutions like these address the economic and operational challenges that have historically made EV fleets accessible only to large companies. Port Power’s system enables any delivery fleet to go electric without the utility service upgrades that often add multi-year delays and extensive costs to fleet electrification.”
According to city data there are hundreds of medium-duty or heavy-duty trucking fleets registered as Oakland businesses; many others use trucks as part of core operations such as furniture moving or commercial deliveries across various sectors.
By switching from diesel engines—which remain major sources of neighborhood pollution—to EVs powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels installed at facilities such as Family Laundry’s site—local businesses can reduce maintenance needs while helping address both environmental concerns and rising fuel costs.
These efforts position Oakland as an emerging leader in adopting clean technologies at both business-to-business level partnerships—as demonstrated by Family Laundry—and through nonprofit collaborations such as those involving Community Kitchens.
