The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that the first all-electric straddle carrier in the US is coming to the Port of New York and New Jersey by the end of this year. This is part of initiatives to meet goals for greenhouse gas emissions reductions set forth in the Paris Climate Agreement.
A straddle carrier is a piece of terminal yard handling equipment that is used to move cargo containers by first straddling the container and then lifting it up and driving over the back of a truck to place the container on the chassis.
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Maher Terminals has agreed to pilot test the all-electric straddle carrier for a year on its container terminal at the Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal to determine its operational and environmental benefits. It will be the first test of an all-electric straddle carrier anywhere in a US port.
The one-year pilot test will analyze the level of greenhouse gas emissions that can be decreased by the all-electric straddle carrier. By not producing any tailpipe gases, this single all-electric straddle carrier will reduce greenhouse gases from the equivalent of 52 fewer passenger vehicles.
At October 25, 2018, the Port Authority called for a 35% reduction by 2025 in greenhouse gas emissions generated by the Port Authority’s own operations. The Board also reaffirmed its commitment to an 80% reduction by 2050.
To meet these targets, the Port Department has conducted other initiatives as well, including:
- The Terminal Tractor Hybrid Retrofit, a collaboration with port tenants to install automatic engine start-stop systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by limiting the amount of time the engine spends idling;
- The Clean Vessel Incentive Program, which incentivizes ocean carriers to burn cleaner fuel and reduce speed to navigate at an optimal speed for fuel conservation.
Port Department Assistant Director Bethann Rooney, stated:
The electrification of cargo handling equipment is an essential component of our continued efforts to reduce emissions and our impact on air quality in and around the port district. By investing in this new technology, we will be a step closer in the agency’s sustainability goals
