Quiet, zero-emission battery container trucks hit the road from Vancouver's port | Daily Hive

Quiet, zero-emission battery-electric container trucks begin hitting the road from Vancouver's port

Example of a battery-electric container truck. (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)

Battery-electric container trucks have begun operating at the Port of Vancouver under a new pilot program aimed at testing whether zero-emission heavy-duty trucks can handle the demands of Canada’s busiest port.

The new Electric Container Trucking Program (ELECTRA) has put the first four battery-electric container trucks into service, with another two expected to begin operating later this year. Altogether, the pilot project entails six vehicles.

In total, five trucking companies in Metro Vancouver are taking part in the initiative.

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The participating companies — Aheer Transportation Ltd., Lally Bros. Holding Ltd., Simard Westlink Inc., TransBC Freight Ltd., and West Coast Freight Ltd. — are each receiving at least one battery-electric truck through subsidized five-year lease agreements, along with charging equipment, driver training, maintenance support, engineering assistance, and software to monitor vehicle and charging performance.

Over the first year of operation, the trucks’ performance will be closely monitored to gather real-world data. The findings will be shared with industry and government partners to help determine how battery-electric trucks could be adopted more broadly for container hauling at the port.

Compared with conventional diesel-powered freight trucks, battery-electric trucks produce no tailpipe emissions, helping reduce emissions as well as air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter that can affect local air quality and public health.

Such vehicles also operate much more quietly, reducing noise in surrounding communities and industrial areas.

For example, Knight Street in Vancouver is known for its high levels of air pollution, as it serves as a critical north-south route for trucks hauling containers and other freight to and from the major port facilities in Burrard Inlet.

Container trucks move thousands of shipping containers between ports, warehouses, rail facilities, and distribution centres every day, making them a significant part of the national goods movement network.

The pilot is part of the Low Emission Technology Initiative, a partnership between the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Government of British Columbia that supports projects designed to reduce emissions from equipment operating at the Port of Vancouver.

The program represents about $3 million in combined funding from Transport Canada, the provincial government, and the port authority, with additional financial support coming through BC Hydro’s Electric Vehicle Fleet Program.

Fleet electrification company 7Gen is overseeing delivery of the trucks and charging infrastructure, while also providing ongoing operational and maintenance support.

Frans Tjallingii, founder and CEO of 7Gen, said the technology has matured to the point where electric trucks are becoming a practical option for container hauling operations.

“7Gen is thrilled to be part of this important pilot program and to help these companies make the switch to electric as seamlessly as possible. Drayage and medium-haul Class 8 are the segments where electrification has crossed the line from possible to practical. The trucks are operationally ready today, and the economics are getting more attractive every quarter,” said Frans Tjallingii, the founder and CEO of 7Gen, in a statement.

“Being on the leading edge for BC is something we’re very proud of — it’s the right move for emissions, and it’s increasingly the right move for the businesses running these fleets.”

Planning for the charging installations included site assessments completed with BC Hydro to ensure participating trucking depots had sufficient electrical capacity and could safely accommodate commercial vehicle charging.

“Container trucks are a vital part of the supply chain, moving goods safely and efficiently to and from the Port of Vancouver every day. We’re proud to be part of this pilot program — one that allows trucking companies to test battery electric container trucks in real-world port operations and supports collective efforts to reduce emissions,” said Peter Xotta, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, in a statement.

BC Hydro president and CEO Charlotte Mitha added, “Through our EV Fleet program, we provided on-the-ground expertise and incentives to support this forward-thinking project, enabling the Vancouver Port Authority to electrify its fleet and take a meaningful step toward cleaner air, quieter streets, and lower emissions.”

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