The procurement is partially funded by a US$50M grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for the Sustainable Terminals Accelerating Regional Transformation project (START), a sweeping, transformative demonstration of a NZE and ZE 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 greenhouse gas emissions. Additional funding for the equipment was provided by a US Environmental Protection Agency Targeted Airshed Grant award.

All the new e-tractors have been supplied by DINA, the Mexican company usually associated with trucks and buses, although it has previously supplied yard tractors to the US, as part of its specialty equipment portfolio.  This order was first reported by WorldCargo News five years ago.

Equipment pricing differences between then and now have not been disclosed and the reasons for the long delay have not been disclosed. Covid, infrastructure and other technical issues, and possibly compliance issues between CARB and SSA Terminal, may have been factors.
 
The new machines increase the percentage of ZE equipment being used at the Port of Long Beach to approximately 20%. The percentage will continue to increase as more ZE equipment is rolled out at the port. This equipment also accelerates Pier C’s progress toward ZE operations, a process that will continue further as SSA Terminals works to integrate ZE top handlers into its equipment fleet.
 
“We are excited to see the Port of Long Beach moving in this direction, consistent with Matson’s goals of achieving a 40% reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas fleet emissions by 2030 and net zero GHG emissions by 2050,” said Matson Chairman and CEO Matt Cox.

The equipment is said to be capable of running a two-shift operation with a once-per-day fast charge. Both the port and SSA Terminals worked with Southern California Edison to bring the project to fruition. SCE’s Charge Ready Transport Program supports heavy duty electrification projects and was vital to the success of the project.