NWSA welcomes first all-electric cargo-handling equipment site

The South Intermodal Yard (SIM) in Tacoma, Washington, will be the first location with all-electric cargo-handling equipment within the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway. The SIM Electric Truck Project represents a $2.2-million investment in equipment purchase and infrastructure installation and has been supported by funding from Tacoma Power, Rail Management Services, and DERA grant funds.

Six new electric cargo trucks will be powered by clean, renewable hydroelectric energy. They will contribute to reducing maritime emissions through the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy while also increasing operational efficiency and demonstrating the effectiveness of zero-emission equipment.

Each electric yard truck will be used to move containers on a chassis to and from container stacks and rail cars. The SIM Electric Yard Truck project is expected to reduce greenhouse gases by approximately 259 tons annually and diesel particulate matter by 1.41 tons per year.