Port of Auckland informed that a battery-powered truck has entered the port’s fleet for the first time, testing the feasibility of zero-emission freight hauling. It’s the only electric truck alongside more than 6,000 diesel-powered vehicles registered at the Port.
The $250,000 big rig is the latest effort to minimize the environmental impact of containerized trade in Oakland. If it works, Port of Auckland expects motor carriers to get additional battery-powered trucks for hauling cargo containers. According to the Port, it has reduced diesel emissions 98% in the past decade through clean truck programs.
GSC Logistics, the company that introduced the rig, said that the truck will be used on short-hauls during a three-year trial. GSC is using the rig to shuttle cargo containers between its depot and Oakland marine terminals. The company also explained that the vehicle’s 100-mile battery range is unsuitable for long-haul drayage.
