**Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach Investing $25 Million in Electric Truck Charging Infrastructure**
In a push to meet California’s ambitious electric vehicle mandates, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have announced a $25 million investment in new charging infrastructure for electric heavy-duty drayage trucks. The two ports, known collectively as the San Pedro Bay ports, are partnering with regional air quality agencies to install 207 charging units at eight sites in Southern California, with a total cost of $135 million.
The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, in collaboration with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, is spearheading the project. The goal is to reduce automotive air pollution in the region and support the transition to electric vehicles. This initiative comes on the heels of a California executive order that aims to phase out gas-powered cars and trucks for consumers and drayage trucks by 2035.
Currently, there are 20,000 trucks registered to pick up or drop off freight at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, with approximately 9,000 of them regularly hauling goods. The ports are committed to transitioning to an entirely emission-free truck fleet by 2035.
Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka emphasized the importance of investing in clean transportation initiatives. The ports are not only funding the installation of charging stations but also partnering with the state of California to offer vouchers of up to $250,000 towards the purchase of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks. The state voucher program, implemented in late 2023, aims to help truck drivers buy zero-emission vehicles and support the purchase of up to 800 new zero-emissions Class 8 drayage trucks.
Under the Clean Truck Fund, the ports collect a fee per loaded drayage truck entering or leaving container terminals, with exemptions provided for zero-emissions trucks. The funds collected from the program have reached approximately $78 million for the Port of Los Angeles and $75 million for the Port of Long Beach as of March 2024.
In addition to investing in charging infrastructure, the Port of Los Angeles recently deployed new battery-powered electric cargo top handlers. These handlers, typically running on diesel fuel, are now powered by electricity and can run for two full shifts before needing a recharge.
Collaborating with logistics companies like Amazon, the ports are working towards accelerating the deployment of electric heavy-duty trucks. Amazon has launched its first fleet of electric drayage trucks, with plans to deploy 50 vehicles to move cargo containers and packages from the ports to distribution facilities.
Other companies, such as Prologis and Maersk’s Performance Team, have also joined the effort to bolster electric trucking in Southern California. Together, they have introduced an EV charging depot capable of charging up to 96 electric trucks simultaneously. This initiative is part of a larger movement to reduce emissions and decarbonize the supply chain in the region.
The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach are investing $25 million in charging infrastructure for zero-emission trucks and fleet vehicles in California. This initiative aims to support drayage trucks and electric vehicles, promoting sustainability in the transportation industry.