Climate United Takes Action to Boost Electric Truck Use at California Ports
The U.S.-based nonprofit organization Climate United has announced that it will invest up to $250 million to purchase approximately 500 electric semi-trucks over the next three years. This move represents the largest single order of zero-emission trucks in the country to date. The organization aims to rent these electric vehicles at affordable prices to truck drivers operating at California's ports. According to California regulations, by 2035, the 33,000 port trucks serving its ports must produce zero exhaust emissions.
The program aims to accelerate the adoption of heavy-duty electric trucks, which currently make up less than 1% of the entire truck fleet in the U.S. The cost of these electric trucks is significantly higher than traditional diesel counterparts, which contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. Beth Bafford, CEO of Climate United, highlighted the challenge of high initial costs for independent vehicle owners and small fleets in transitioning to electric trucks.
Climate United is preparing to place its first orders in the first quarter of 2025, focusing on class 8 trucks that are assembled domestically using U.S.-made parts. Manufacturers such as Volvo Trucks North America, BYD, and Kenworth are already operating electric trucks at California ports, including the Los Angeles and Long Beach port complex, the busiest in the country.
The nonprofit's initiative is supported by a $6.97 billion grant from the National Clean Investment Fund, established under President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which is part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Additionally, Climate United is collaborating with Forum Mobility, a company that is developing charging stations along California's ports and frequently used shipping routes.
Jacqueline Torres, Vice President of Forum Mobility, emphasized the importance of synchronizing the availability of electric trucks with the necessary charging infrastructure. "For a long time, this has been the chicken or egg story. You can't have trucks without charging stations, and you can't have charging stations without trucks," she stated. She expressed that this program effectively brings together both elements and could potentially transform the trucking landscape at California's ports.