“The availability of these funds will help reduce barriers for small trucking fleets, a true win-win-win for our local community, our truckers, and our port,” said Port Houston chairman Ric Campo. “Prior to this program, many truck owners were unable to afford the high upfront costs to purchase zero-emission equipment.”

The program will help fund 30 new zero-emission (ZE) short-haul trucks, and portable electric chargers for battery electric vehicle trucks, to make zero-emission technology accessible and more affordable to owners and operators of small trucking fleets. The funds will also pay for installing new automated terminal operating systems to help reduce truck idling times.

Port Houston will use its portion of the grant to subsidise replacement of existing drayage trucks with new ZE trucks, which can cost US$400,000 -$500,000. Fleet owners are responsible for covering 20% of the cost, and both electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks are eligible.

“Port Houston is following through on its sustainability commitment to reduce emissions from port operations,” said Roger Guenther, executive director of Port Houston. “Not only did we prioritise this project and submit it for federal funding, but we are also providing the US$6.27m local match to bring this to fruition.”

This project also includes a workforce training component: Port Houston is teaming up with a local community college to develop three mechanics training courses. These courses will equip both the current and future generations with the skills to work on new ZE fleets.