On Friday, July 19, Port Newark warehouse tenant Best Transportation delivered a 14,000-pound container using a zero-emission electric drayage truck, becoming the first trucking company to move a container from Maher Terminals of the Port of New York and New Jersey by using an electric vehicle. Powered by electricity, this tractor emits zero tailpipe pollutant and delivered its cargo to Costco Wholesale in Monroe, NJ and returned without incident to the Port with an empty container on the same day.
The second-generation battery electric drayage truck, the only commercially available zero-emission drayage truck, is powered by a battery pack that produces enough power for an estimated 125 miles per charge. The truck’s day cab is rated at 26,235 pounds and can carry a combined maximum weight of 105,000 pounds (highway weight limit is 80,000 pounds).
The success of this trial run represents another step forward for the Port of New York and New Jersey as it continues its efforts to reduce diesel and greenhouse gas emissions through the exploration of more efficient processes and improvements across all of its facilities.
The next step for Best Transportation’s zero-emissions vehicle program will be the testing of a zero- emission battery electric terminal tractor (yard hostler)—the most abundant type of cargo handling equipment found at marine terminals. By the end of 2019, one electric drayage truck and 14 electric terminal tractors are expected to serve the New Jersey Ports, all funded partially by the Volkswagen Settlement Fund managed by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).