The Port of Los Angeles has awarded a total of US$6 million to two trucking companies and their truck manufacturer partners to speed up the transition to zero-emission (ZE) drayage trucks serving the port.
The grants are going to defray the cost of putting 22 pre-production emissions-free models in port service during 2023.
“Developing and deploying zero-emission trucks are critical to the health of residents who live and work around the ports,” commented 15th District Los Angeles City council member, Tim McOsker.
“This is just one of the incentives we are offering to accelerate zero-emission technology and drive stakeholder investment,” commented Port of Los Angeles executive director, Gene Seroka.
According to the Californian port, two Los Angeles-area licensed motor carriers, Gardena-based MLI Leasing and El Segundo-based Performance Team, will receive US$3 million each – the maximum funding per trucking company available under the Port’s Zero Emission Truck Pilot Program.
Moreover, each carrier has partnered with an equipment manufacturer to qualify for the incentive. MLI is working with Peterbilt and investing more than US$3.4 million to produce and deploy 12 ZE trucks. Additionally, Maersk’s Performance Team is working with Volvo and investing more than US$5.6 million to produce and deploy 10 ZE trucks.
All 22 will be battery-electric models that will be on the road within the coming year. Each vehicle must make at least 50 drayage trips annually to Port of Los Angeles terminals.
The awards, approved by the Los Angeles Harbor Commission last week, represent the first distribution of Clean Truck Fund (CTF) dollars by the Port since 1 April when the San Pedro Bay ports began collecting US$10 for every loaded 20 TEUs moving through the port by truck.
It is expected for the port to raise US$45 million within the first 12 months and each subsequent year based on the current rate.
All CTF revenues are going to be used to offer incentives that accelerate the deployment of ZE trucks serving the San Pedro Bay ports. For the first three years, the port has prioritised spending the money on truck vouchers, support for small fleets and independent owner-operators, matching funds to support electric and clean energy fueling infrastructure, advanced truck technologies, and innovative ZE concept trucks.
