Battery-electric container trucks enter service in Port of Vancouver pilot programme
The pilot scheme, known as the Electric Container Trucking Program (ELECTRA), has introduced six battery-electric Class 8 trucks into commercial service across five British Columbia trucking companies – making it one of the first coodinated deployments of its kind at a major North American port.
Under the $3m CAD scheme, participating operators receive subsidised five-year truck leases, along with charging infrastructure support, driver training, maintenance assistance, and access to a centralised data platform that tracks vehicle and energy performance.
According to the port authority: “For the first 12 months that each truck is in service, the program will collect operational data that will be shared with industry and government partners to inform future adoption of battery electric container trucks.” The port authority also confirmed that four trucks are already in operation, with the remainder set for deployment later this year.
The programme is being delivered in partnership between the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Transport Canada, the Province of British Columbia, BC Hydro, and fleet technology partner 7Gen. Operators involved in the programme include Aheer Transportation Group, Lally Bros Holding, Simard Transport, Trans BC Freightways and West Coast Freight, all of which will be using the vehicles on active container routes serving the port.
In terms of funding, the port authority confirmed: “The program represents an estimated $3 million in total support from Transport Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the port authority. Additional funding is being accessed through BC Hydro’s EV Fleet Program.”
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