The Port of Long Beach has broken ground on its new truck charging station managed by Forum Mobility.

The aim of the project is to meet the accelerating demand for heavy-duty electric trucks serving the Port of Long Beach. The facility, set to open in the autumn, will bring the port closer to its goal of zero-emissions operations for drayage trucks by 2035.

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero, said: “We are proud to start construction on another project that will help us make dramatic reductions in air emissions and put us on the path toward becoming the world’s first zero-emissions port.

“Forum Mobility’s new charging depot is another way we are helping truck drivers make the switch from diesel-fueled vehicles to electric vehicles.”

Long Beach Harbor Commission President, Bobby Olvera Jr, stated: “This new charging depot will help deliver the infrastructure needed for heavy-duty trucking to shift from diesel fuel to zero-emissions, and achieve our Clean Air Action Plan goal of 100 per cent zero-emissions drayage operations by 2035.”

Forum Mobility’s facility will be outfitted with 19 dual-port chargers and six single-dispenser chargers capable of charging 44 heavy-duty electric trucks simultaneously in about 90 minutes, depending on battery size.

In addition to the Port of Long Beach, Forum Mobility plans to establish eight other stations along major freight lines in California over the next two years, including Compton, the Inland Empire, Oakland, and Stockton.

Matt LeDucq, CEO of Forum Mobility, said: “With the support of the Port of Long Beach, the Forum Mobility Harbor depot will provide drayage truckers a turnkey solution for zero emission freight.”

Recently, the port announced a trade increase in April, marking the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year (YoY) cargo growth.