The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have announced that they will invest $25 million to a collaboration with regional air quality authorities.

According to the ports, this collaboration aims to provide charging infrastructure for electric heavy-duty drayage trucks in one of the country’s most populous areas.

The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee’s $135 million projects will build up to 207 charging stations at eight sites in Southern California, including Wilmington, Rancho Dominguez, Rialto, Fontana, Commerce, and the Port of Long Beach. The South Coast Air Quality Management District oversees project contracts.

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director, Gene Seroka, said: “We’re investing with our Clean Truck Fund to get both zero-emission (ZE) trucks and infrastructure on the street as quickly as possible.

“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.”

This week, the Los Angeles Harbour Commission and the Long Beach Harbour Commission each authorised a $12.5 million allocation from their respective Clean Truck Funds for the idea.

The Clean Truck Fund Rate supports the ports’ goal of transitioning to a zero-emission truck fleet by 2035, as outlined in the Clean Air Action Plan.

Rate collection commenced in April 2022, at $10 per TEU and $20 per forty-foot equivalent unit. Loaded containers transported by zero-emissions trucks are exempt from the charge, as are low-nitrogen oxide trucks in restricted instances.

Through March 2024, the Port of Los Angeles reportedly collected about $78 million, while the Port of Long Beach collected almost $75 million.

Recently, the Port of Long Beach announced it will receive $283 million from the federal government to assist in building ‘America’s Green Gateway’.