Reaching a tipping point in battery-electric Container Handling Equipment
One step toward decarbonizing our ports: a roadmap to container handling equipment electrification.
Overview
Container Handling Equipment (CHE) is a critical enabler of port operations, accounting for 90% of global trade across the world’s 940 container ports. In 2020 alone, the global fleet of CHE enabled the transportation of 815 million TEUs but was also responsible for emitting 10-15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide whilst doing so.
Research has found that the challenges hampering the uptake of battery-electric CHE can be mostly overcome.
HOW WE’RE MAKING IT HAPPEN
Terminal Operators
- Re-think the way terminals operate
- Develop terminal-level electrification roadmaps
- Identify workforce training requirements
- Increase / scale up demand
Original Equipment Manufacturers
- Cooperate to develop technology standards
Port Authorities & Affiliated Government Entities
- Incentivize the transition to zero-emission CHE fleets
- Make zero-emission CHE a requirement in new proposals
- Provide financing for the required infrastructure
- Ensure clean air mandates for CHE
Shipping Lines
- Identify requirements for end-to-end zero-emission supply chains
- Include zero-emission CHE in green shipping corridor requirements
Collective, industry-wide action is needed to achieve affordable and attractive battery-electric CHE that can be used globally.
So we started ZEPA....
THE ZERO EMISSION PORT ALLIANCE
The Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA) is an industry-wide strategic coalition with the goal of accelerating the journey to zero emissions for container handling equipment (CHE) on ports.
APM Terminals & DP World
Based on research from the recent whitepaper developed jointly by APM Terminals and DP World, the alliance will work to increase industry wide-adoption of battery-electric CHE by making it more affordable, attractive and accessible.
This will be done across four workstreams, each with a different objective to overcome challenges:
Production
Encourage scaled up production capacity of BE-CHE by manufacturers & reduce product costs.
Pricing & platform
Bring down the cost of batteries and charging solutions, simplify implementation and increase equipment interoperability.
Preparation
Ensure terminal operators and the grid infrastructure are ready for BE-CHE & shore power roll-out.
Promotion
Create better implementation conditions for zero-emission fleets and help accelerate adoption of zero-emission CHE.
JOIN ZEPA
ZEPA membership is open to all industry participants, including terminal operators, OEMs, port authorities and government entities. If you’d like to speak with the team about a potential membership, please contact [email protected].
The Zero Emission Port Alliance is a results-driven coalition with a clear focus, set up to support and deliver tangible short-term action. I truly believe we are capable of driving the change needed to make port electrification happen.