Distributed Energy Resources, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  December 5, 2023

SSA Terminals Adds Zero-Emissions Electric Tractors

A Port of Long Beach container terminal, SSA Terminals, unveiled a fleet of 33 new human-operated zero-emissions battery-electric yard tractors to replace cargo-handling machines that used traditional gasoline and diesel.

The deployment was led by terminal operator SSA Terminals LLC, a joint venture between SSA Marine and Matson Navigation Company. It is partially funded by a $50 million grant from the California Air Resources Board for the Sustainable Terminals Accelerating Regional Transformation, or START project, a demonstration of a near-zero and zero-emissions supply chain. 

The START project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions in cap-and-trade dollars to work by reducing GHG emissions. Additional funding for the equipment was provided by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Targeted Airshed Grant award.

The new machines increase the percentage of zero-emissions equipment being used at the Port of Long Beach to approximately 20%. The percentage will continue to increase as more zero-emissions equipment is rolled out at the Port. 

“Meeting our aggressive zero-emissions goals is not possible without the support of our partners, and this project is just another example of the shared commitment at the Port of Long Beach to a zero-emissions future,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero, in a statement. “I’d especially like to thank SSA Terminals for leading zero-emissions efforts at Pier C, Southern California Edison for prioritizing zero-emissions infrastructure projects and CARB for the funding to make these types of projects possible.”