More than a dozen electric vehicles (EV) are scheduled to arrive next year at the Port of San Diego.
Port commissioners recently voted to spend $820,000 to buy 14 electric vehicles from National Auto Fleet Group.
The 10 medium-duty pickup trucks and four vans will launch the port’s conversion to a zero-emissions fleet, replacing gas or diesel-powered vehicles, the port said March 9.
The purchase puts into action the port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy goals set forth by the community and other stakeholders, Dan Malcolm, chair of the Board of Port Commissioners said.
“Not only is our approach to improving air quality among the most aggressive in the country, but we have also outlined how we will deliver,” he said. “The purchase of these electric vehicles shows we take the health of those who live, work and play on and near the waterfront seriously.”
In addition to the 14 new EVs, the port also has placed a purchase order for two electric pickup trucks. They’re expected to be delivered by late summer or early fall 2022.
Other notable clean air projects in the works at the port include:
- The purchase of two all-electric mobile harbor cranes to replace the obsolete diesel mobile harbor crane at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
- The doubling of shore power for cruise ships by 2023.
- Adding shore power or an alternative technology to reduce ocean-going emissions at berth at the National City Marine Terminal by 2025.
- Purchasing electric equipment like utility tractor rigs and drayage short-haul trucks for use at the marine terminals.