Ports of Indiana testing EV truck use
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The Ports of Indiana is conducting a pilot program to examine the use of heavy-duty electric vehicles at its port in Burns Harbor. At least for the next six months, the authority will make available a variety of battery-powered trucks, terminal tractors and forklifts to its 30 tenants. The stevedores, businesses and trucking companies will be able to use the equipment as part of real-world port trucking operations.
In an interview with Inside INdiana, Ports of Indiana Chief Operating Officer Andrea Hermer said they want to demonstrate how electric vehicles can be part sustainable, industrial business.
“The technology’s there. We feel that it’s probably one of the most far ahead technologies in these kinds of alternative fuel arenas that we can actually start implementing,” said Hermer. “We may have to start off small, but we are prepared and ready to move forward, step by step with our tenants.
LISTEN: Hermer further explains how EV technology is part of a broader plan for the Ports of Indiana.
Connecticut-based Current Trucking, a lease and service provider of eTrucks, is partnering with the ports authority to provide the vehicles for companies to test-drive in their daily operations.
“We are showcasing the best available heavy-haul electrification technology from the industry’s leading manufacturers,” said Pip Decker, Current Trucking founder and project team member. “We hope to demonstrate to operators how e-mobility adoption reduces total operating costs.”
Initially, port clients can sign-up to use a terminal tractor, often referred to as a “yard jockey,” to move semi-trailers within a cargo yard. But other electric equipment will be made available to demonstrate their effectiveness in day-to-day operations.
“As tenants tell us the equipment they need, we will bring out electric versions or models of that equipment. We plan to have more trucks out there. We plan to bring in forklifts. If folks are interested in cranes, whatever equipment they need, we can bring those in,” said Hermer.
Hermer says it is working with Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) to supply power and industrial grade fast chargers at the port. Depending on the success of the program and the planned adoption of EV usage, the authority will then make the long-term investment in infrastructure to support industrial EVs.
“We do plan to make capital investments in that that area, and not so much in the equipment arena,” explainer Hermer. “We don’t plan to become owners and operators of a lot of equipment. But we feel like if we can help provide the solution and the infrastructure. I think it’ll help incentivize and move other folks forward to purchase what they’re already used to purchasing, which is equipment.”
Hermer says the pilot program is just one phase of a broader This program is part of the port authority’s broader initiatives to achieve a “greener, energy-resilient and sustainable port.”
“Ports are all about transportation and logistical connections,” said Hermer. “We are looking at electricity and other sources of energy in the same way – critical connections to port operations and the future.”
In July 2020, the authority celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Burns Harbor facility. Hermer says as the Ports of Indiana looks towards the next 50 years, it will need to look at energy usage in a different way.
“It’s certainly one of those areas that we feel that it’s going to be a real key to our future success,” said Hermer. “This is part of what is operations we’re going to do going forward because it’s part of what we believe is necessary and important to continue the success of our ports statewide.”
For now, the pilot program will remain at the Burns Harbor facility. Hermer says it will further explore the possibility of running a similar pilot at the authority’s other ports along the Ohio River in Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon.