New, innovative sustainable-freight vehicles at the Port of San Diego

The Port of San Diego and the San Diego Port Tenants Association (SDPTA) are celebrating the deployment of new sustainable-freight vehicles by Dole Fresh Fruit at the port’s cargo terminal.

Powered by electricity, the new semi-trucks and forklifts will reduce air emissions by replacing gasoline- and diesel-powered cargo-handling equipment at the Port of San Diego. The electric vehicles are also much quieter than their conventional counterparts, thereby reducing the noise for neighbouring communities.

The California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program awarded $5.9 million to the SDPTA to demonstrate a total of 10 electric vehicles, as well as intelligent transportation systems, at the port.

Electric semi-trucks and forklifts will be demonstrated at four other port businesses in addition Dole Fresh Fruit, namely: Marine Group Boat Works, Pasha Automotive Group, TerminaLift, and Continental Maritime. The goal is to encourage additional maritime industrial businesses to adopt cleaner transportation technologies, and to help manufacturers bring down the cost of zero-emission vehicles.

These new freight vehicles will help the Port of San Diego to meet the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals established as part of the Climate Action Plan adopted by the port in 2013. The vehicles and equipment are expected to reduce GHG emissions by 940 metric tonnes over the project’s lifetime.