Reaching a tipping point in battery-electric Container Handling Equipment

One step toward decarbonizing our ports: a roadmap to container handling equipment electrification.

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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.

INSIDE THE PAPER

  • DP World Container at the Port

    A critical enabler of seaborne transport

    Container Handling Equipment (CHE) is a critical enabler of seaborne transport, which has a lower carbon footprint than land or airborne transport and accounts for 90% of global trade.

  • INSIDE THE PAPER 2

    A lower cost of ownership and greater efficiency

    Battery-electric Container Handling Equipment (BE-CHE) is preferred over hydrogen-electric CHE due to a lower cost of ownership and greater efficiency.

  • INSIDE THE PAPER 3

    Challenges can be overcome with industry-wide collaboration

    While cheaper than hydrogen-electric, battery-electric CHE faces affordability and accessibility challenges which can be overcome with the right actions from industry stakeholders.

  • STRATEGY

    HOW WE’RE MAKING 
IT HAPPEN

    Quay crane

    Terminal Operators

    • Re-think the way terminals operate
    • Develop terminal-level electrification roadmaps
    • Identify workforce training requirements
    • Increase / scale up demand
    Mechanical

    Original Equipment Manufacturers

    • Cooperate to develop technology standards
    icon - WP-CHE - Authorities

    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
    Cargo Ship

    Shipping Lines

    • Identify requirements for end-to-end zero-emission supply chains
    • Include zero-emission CHE in green shipping corridor requirements
    Straddle Carrier at Southampton

    Collective, industry-wide action is needed to achieve affordable and attractive battery-electric CHE that can be used globally.

    Zepa meeting

    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:

    icon - WP-CHE - Production

    Production

    Encourage scaled up production capacity of BE-CHE by manufacturers & reduce product costs.

    icon - WP-CHE - Pricing

    Pricing & platform

    Bring down the cost of batteries and charging solutions, simplify implementation and increase equipment interoperability.

    Electricity

    Preparation

    Ensure terminal operators and the grid infrastructure are ready for BE-CHE & shore power roll-out.

    icon - WP-CHE - Promotion

    Promotion

    Create better implementation conditions for zero-emission fleets and help accelerate adoption of zero-emission CHE.

    Nicolaj Noes

    REACHING A TIPPING POINT IN BATTERY-ELECTRIC CONTAINER HANDLING EQUIPMENT

  • Warehouses

    Our Sustainability initiatives and commitments: leading the industry toward a more sustainable future.

  • Zepa meeting

    APM Terminals and DP World launch Zero Emission Port Alliance at COP28 

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