Malta benefits from Hyster battery power expertise

The advanced handler, powered by 650-volt lithium-ion batteries, can stack containers up to eight-high and will help to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions at the terminal. 

“The introduction of the Hyster battery-electric empty container handler at Malta Freeport is an important step in reducing emissions in our Terminal operations,” said Alex Montebello, CEO of Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd.

“This collaboration will help us leverage cutting-edge, sustainable technology to meet our decarbonisation goals while maintaining the efficiency and reliability that our operations demand.”

Energy transition

This two-year pilot, funded by the CMA CGM Energy Fund “PULSE,” supports the global shipping leader’s energy transition goal of achieving net-zero carbon by 2050.

Niek Willems, Hyster’s leader of business development, global ports and terminals, highlighted the significance of this partnership.

“Collaborating with CMA CGM to pioneer the use of a lithium-ion battery-powered empty container handler is the next exciting development in this relationship,” he said.

The design of the battery electric empty container handler for Malta Freeport Terminals, based on the equivalent diesel model to provide a familiar user experience for operators, is the result of years of Hyster research and development around port equipment electrification.

It follows projects such as the pilot of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered top-pick container handler at the Port of Los Angeles and a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Reach Stacker to the Port of Valencia.

Hyster said that these innovative developments aim to transform operations which have previously depended on trucks with internal combustion engines and provide real-world solutions that enable businesses to meet their sustainability goals.