The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have announced a joint investment of $25 million in collaboration with regional air quality authorities to establish charging infrastructure for electric heavy-duty drayage trucks in one of the nation’s busiest areas.

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The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee’s $135 million initiative will see the construction of up to 207 charging stations at eight sites across Southern California, including Wilmington, Rancho Dominguez, Rialto, Fontana, Commerce, and the Port of Long Beach. The South Coast Air Quality Management District will oversee project contracts.

Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, stated, “We’re investing with our Clean Truck Fund to get both zero-emission (ZE) trucks and infrastructure on the street as quickly as possible. In addition to funding charging stations, we’re partnering with the state of California to offer vouchers of up to $250,000 toward the purchase of a ZE heavy-duty truck. Every day, we’re making progress toward our goal of a zero-emission port.”

This week, the Los Angeles Harbour Commission and the Long Beach Harbour Commission each authorized a $12.5 million allocation from their respective Clean Truck Funds for this initiative.

The Clean Truck Fund Rate, which began collection in April 2022, supports the ports’ objective of transitioning to a zero-emission truck fleet by 2035 as outlined in the Clean Air Action Plan. The rate is set at $10 per TEU and $20 per forty-foot equivalent unit. Containers transported by zero-emissions trucks are exempt from the charge, as are low-nitrogen oxide trucks in specific instances.

By March 2024, the Port of Los Angeles had reportedly collected around $78 million, while the Port of Long Beach had collected nearly $75 million through this initiative.

Additionally, the Port of Long Beach recently announced it will receive $283 million from the federal government to assist in building ‘America’s Green Gateway.’