Clean fuel initiatives for transport and handling

Metrans, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA)’s intermodal company, is testing the first hydrogen-powered truck in Slovakia in operational conditions. It is doing so in collaboration with the technological company Mobility & Innovation Production s.r.o (MIP). Metrans aims to expand its fleet of zero-emission vehicles to offer its customers fully climate-neutral container handling and transport.

Compared to other electric trucks, the MIP truck offers an extended range for long-distance trips. The 48kg hydrogen tank enables a range of at least 600km without usage habits, such as the refuelling process, needing to be changed. As part of the test drives, the truck will be fuelled exclusively with hydrogen from renewable energy sources.

Elsewhere, the Port of Tacoma in the US Pacific Northwest has taken delivery of a specialist new terminal vehicle that is being used to demonstrate zero-emission technology.

Delivered in Q4 2024, the new electric yard truck is designed to tow containers and equipment and comes with a mobile charging unit that can be moved around the terminal as needed.

In order to gain funding for the new electric unit, the port scrapped an older and more polluting diesel model. This triggered a Washington State Department of Ecology grant plus the port contributed more than US$100,000 to the project.

This new electric truck complements deployment of six similar vehicles at the South Intermodal Yard in Tacoma, operated in partnership with rail operator RMS.