A major Port of Oakland-based trucking operator plans to test battery-powered big rig technology in September, which the company says will lower operating costs and eliminate diesel exhaust. 

The Port of Oakland

GSC Logistics said it would launch a three-year trial with a heavy-duty, all-electric truck.  The test is part of a statewide effort to determine the feasibility of zero-emission freight hauling.

GSC, the port’s largest motor carrier, is the first Northern California drayage company to test battery-powered trucks, and CEO Scott Taylor said his firm would consider purchasing additional rigs if the trial was successful. 

“The purpose of the demo is to prove that battery-operated trucks can work in real world applications and port operations,” Taylor said.

“Depending on the efficiency, reliability, productivity and economics of battery-powered trucks, GSC would certainly entertain the possibility of integrating them into our fleet in the future.”

California's Air Resources Board initiated the zero-emission truck trial last year and is now sponsoring a test with five battery-powered rigs in Southern California concurrent with the Oakland study. China-based BYD Co. is manufacturing the trucks. 

“We’re out to prove that zero-emission, battery-powered trucks can be used in heavy-duty applications,” said Andy Swanton of subsidiary BYD California.  He said the benefits of electric vs. diesel-powered trucks include:• Lower operating costs;• No diesel exhaust; and• Quieter rides for drivers and neighborhoods near truck routes.

He said the benefits of electric versus diesel-powered trucks include lower operating costs, no diesel exhaust, and quieter rides for drivers and neighborhoods near truck routes.

GSC Logistics said its truck would shuttle import containers from Port of Oakland marine terminals to a nearby yard. The rig has a 100-mile battery range. A charging station will be installed to plug in the vehicle.

GSC hauls the equivalent of 100,000 20-foot containers of cargo annually in Northern California and Nevada, managing a fleet of 200 trucks.

The Port of Oakland said the trial fitted well with its emission-reduction efforts.

"We've done everything from subsidizing clean-truck purchases to shrinking the queues at our gates," said Port of Oakland environmental programs and planning director Richard Sinkoff.

"Battery-powered trucks are a logical next-step for exploration."

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