Beach Trading Blog

Last week, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined officials from the Port of Los Angeles and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for the introduction of the world’s most powerful electric truck.

The local manufacturer of this emissions-free truck, Balqon Corporation, will open an assembly plant in the Harbor City area of Los Angeles, with 47 “green collar” employees and the potential to bring more jobs and millions in business and tax revenue to the City of Los Angeles.

This will help the area by reducing cancer causing diesel emissions as well as introducing jobs and creating business and tax revenue.

Built as a demonstration project co-funded by the Port and SCAQMD, and designed specifically for short-haul or “drayage” operations, this electric tractor was the result of nearly a year of development and testing. The heavy-duty electric short-haul drayage truck — the first of its kind at any port worldwide — can pull a 60,000-pound cargo container at a top speed of 40 mph, and has a range between 30 to 60 miles per battery charge. The battery charger can charge up to four electric trucks simultaneously in four hours and can also provide up to 60 percent of the charge in one hour to meet peak demands during daily operations.

Future widespread application of a fleet of electric trucks would be especially useful at the Port of Los Angeles because, on an annual basis, more than two million truck drayage trips take place between the port terminals and rail and warehouse facilities within five to ten miles of San Pedro Bay.

The twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are the largest fixed source of air pollution for California. With over 40% of what the entire nation consumes coming through this port complex, the citizens of Southern California are tired of facing increased air pollution and increased asthma and cancer rates just the so the rest of the country can have cheaper dvd players.