Port of Tauranga is preparing to trial New Zealand’s first fully electric straddle carrier as part of efforts to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kalmar machine is being assembled at the port’s container terminal and is expected to begin trials later this year.
Port of Tauranga says the trial will assess operational impacts, charging times, driver acceptance, training requirements, reliability, safety and maintenance needs.
The project will cost more than $3.5 million, including a $447,000 contribution from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) through the Low Emission Transport Fund.
Electric straddle technology has not previously been tested under New Zealand port operating conditions.
The port is also preparing to add six new Kalmar hybrid straddle carriers to its fleet.
“Since 2020, we have already introduced seven hybrids and they have proven to be about 25% more fuel efficient than our older diesel-electric models,” Port of Tauranga says.
The country’s busiest port currently operates 53 straddle carriers, representing around one-third of New Zealand’s total fleet.
Straddle carriers move containers to and from the shipside and can travel over rows stacked up to three containers high.
Port of Tauranga says the additional hybrids and electric trial form part of its continuing work to lower emissions from container-terminal operations.
