The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have announced a significant $25 million investment to develop electric truck charging infrastructure in Southern California. This initiative, launched in partnership with regional air quality agencies, aims to expedite the transition to zero-emission heavy-duty drayage trucks in one of the nation’s busiest regions.
The comprehensive $135 million project, spearheaded by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, will see the installation of 207 charging units across eight strategic sites. These locations include Wilmington, Rancho Dominguez, Rialto, Fontana, Commerce, and the Port of Long Beach. The South Coast Air Quality Management District will oversee the contracting process for these projects.
“We’re investing with our Clean Truck Fund to get both zero-emission (ZE) trucks and infrastructure on the street as quickly as possible,” stated Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. “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.”
The Los Angeles Harbor Commission and the Long Beach Harbor Commission have each approved the allocation of $12.5 million from their respective Clean Truck Funds to support this initiative. These funds are a critical part of the ports’ broader efforts to transition to a zero-emissions truck fleet by 2035, as outlined in the Clean Air Action Plan.
Since the introduction of the Clean Truck Fund Rate in April 2022, which charges $10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit or $20 per forty-foot equivalent unit, significant funds have been collected to support this cause. The Port of Los Angeles has amassed about $78 million, while the Port of Long Beach has collected nearly $75 million. Exemptions from these charges are granted for containers transported by zero-emission trucks and, under certain conditions, by low-nitrogen oxide trucks.
This project marks a critical step towards achieving the ports' long-term environmental goals and highlights their commitment to sustainability and cleaner air.