As part of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), the Port of Los Angeles is developing a system of electric cargo trucks that can substantially lower the port’s emissions. The initiative, which debuted in 2007, funded the development of a prototype heavy-duty, short-range electric truck (at right). The zero-emissions truck runs solely on electricity and is able to transport a full 40-foot cargo container.

Since its initial development, the Port of Los Angeles ordered twenty of these Electric Trucks from Balqon, which are currently undergoing testing. The Electric Truck Initiative is also in the process of purchasing and evaluating hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-electric trucks by Vision Industries. This component requires additional coordination with the Department of Transportation, in order to ensure that the vehicle receives the proper permissions to be used on the road.

Other countries have already begun to incorporate use of the electric trucks: China ordered 300 trucks from the Balqon corporation in January of 2011.