The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is developing a plan for the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) to transition their heavy-, medium-, and light-duty fleet vehicles and container handling equipment (CHE) to low- or no-emission alternatives. This study assesses the feasibility, high-level costs, and expected greenhouse gas reductions of transitioning approximately 500 on- and off-road vehicles to hybrid, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell models over a 25-year period.
CTE is investigating the current and future operations at the six terminals owned and operated by SCPA to determine performance requirements of alternative equipment and infrastructure, as well as conducting a market assessment to evaluate current and potential future zero-emission CHE options. The final deliverables to SCPA will be a fleet decarbonization report and a cost-benefit model. This project supports SCPA’s long-term zero-emission transition planning as well as the development of requirements to solicit proposals from original equipment manufacturers or engineering firms to execute the transition.
CTE will assess multiple aspects of the Ports’ operations to determine a feasible transition strategy. First, the operational and energy needs of each equipment or vehicle type at each terminal will be determined. The off-road equipment includes full and empty container handlers, rubber tire gantries, yard trucks, and forklifts. Then, CTE will find suitable vehicles to meet SCPA’s needs in a market analysis. CTE will analyze the daily fuel consumption to project annual fueling costs and potential savings as well as determine any fueling infrastructure requirements. Finally, CTE will assess the current facilities across the nine terminals to determine feasible alternative fueling solutions.
Upon completion of the feasibility analyses, the project team will develop a strategy to guide the procurement and deployment of low- or no-emission CHE and vehicles. CTE will work with the Ports’ team to ensure the transition strategy meets their emission reduction goals in conjunction with the planned port expansions. CTE will identify potential sources of funding for deployment of equipment and infrastructure at ports. Finally, CTE will create a cost-benefit model to summarize the environmental and public health benefits of greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant reductions as well as total cost of ownership estimates.
As of Q3 2024, CTE has successfully completed data collection, a market assessment, fleet assessment, and a fuel assessment in collaboration with SCPA and is currently developing the facilities assessment.
