Electric Truck Demo Launches at Port of Oakland

This month, the Port of Oakland and its logistics partners kicked off a battery electric truck demonstration project with 10 new battery electric trucks at Shippers Transport Express.

This battery electric truck demonstration project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It expands options for another clean, cargo-handling technology at California ports.

The vehicles’ trips will be within the Port of Oakland. The data collected will include emissions reductions measurements. The trucks will also be monitored for how effectively they operate when hauling fully loaded containers.

Currently, 17 battery electric trucks are in operation at the port. Presently, use of these drayage trucks are limited to short distances and lighter cargo loads because of range and highway weight limitations.

“We’re grateful to the California Air Resources Board for funding electric drayage trucks,” the port’s director of environmental programs and planning, Richard Sinkoff, said in a July 19 statement. “Demonstration projects help us toward our goal of a zero-emissions seaport.”

The $5.1 million cost for the Peterbilt trucks are being funded with a grant from a Zero and Near-Zero-Emission Freight Facility program.

“Getting these cleaner-running and quieter trucks into service is a major step in testing the feasibility of battery electric trucks moving containers,” said port Maritime Director Bryan Brandes.

Testing will take place over three months.

The port has been working to advance its sustainability goals, spending $1.7 million and two years to build 10 electric charging stations at Shippers Transport and a new electrical substation and power line extension to link the charging stations.

By Pacific Maritime