Grant Supports Zero-Emission Cargo Handling at Port of Long Beach

TTI’s Pier T at the Port of Long Beach. Photo: Port of Long Beach

The Port of Long Beach is moving ahead with a $16.8 million project to build infrastructure that will support electric-powered, zero-emissions cargo-handling at the port.

Funded in part by an $8 million California Energy Commission grant, the Port Advanced Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Project supports the first phase of a transition to zero-emissions at Total Terminals International’s container terminal at Pier T, the port’s largest.

The PAVE project will also be the first in the world demonstrate heavy-duty, off-road, direct current fast-charging system in a seaport environment.

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The project includes designing and building charging outlets for almost 40 pieces of electrical terminal equipment at TTI’s Pier T.

Four battery-electric yard tractors will be modified to connect to a DC fast-charging system, which, if proven viable, could eliminate the need for onboard equipment chargers and potentially increase battery capacity of electric vehicles.

The Port of Long Beach says other objectives of the project include learning about the electrical grid impacts associated with the deployment of electric vehicles and equipment, as well as developing a portwide Dynamic Energy Forecasting Tool to predict how much energy and supporting infrastructure seaports will need to support zero-emissions terminal equipment.

“When finished, this project will be a cost-effective, replicable model that the Port of Long Beach and others can use to speed progress to zero emissions,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum. “It’s part of a wide array of approaches we are using to reduce air pollution for our community and deliver on our promise as the Green Port.”

“For more than a decade, we’ve shown that economic strength and a cleaner environment can exist together,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We’ve done that by innovating with projects like these and leading the way forward for the industry.”

The demonstration is expected to begin early in 2021 and the project is scheduled to be completed by March 2022. 

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