Felixstowe autonomous trucks II

The sophisticated tech behind the Port of Felixstowe’s fleet of autonomous trucks (ATs) means that a driverless Q-Truck can spot a seagull, distinguish what it is, and continue operations without hesitation, CEO Clemence Cheng told guests at a function to celebrate the arrival of the latest units.

As for the growing population of seagulls, Ben Gaunt, Senior Project Manager at Shanghai Westwell Technology, said: “Several of them have been known to hitch a ride around the terminal on a Q-Truck.”

The fast reactions of the trucks are crucial because Felixstowe is the first port in Europe to have autonomous trucks operating alongside normal driven traffic in the terminal.

Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell, revealed that company’s work with the Suffolk port is setting the foundations for its expansion in the UK. “Felixstowe has been our gateway into the UK market,” he said. “Westwell is setting up a UK company by the end of this year (2025). This will be our first overseas office combining R&D, delivery and spare parts in one. And I trust we might see Q-Trucks built here in the UK and shipping out from Felixstowe to the rest of the world.”

The Felixstowe AT fleet represents the largest and most advanced deployment of Westwell’s Q-Trucks in Europe, said Ben Gaunt. The ATs delivered are powered by advanced sensor fusion architecture, including a 360-degree industrial-grade binocular camera and 128-line LiDAR. Each truck features interactive light signals and audiovisual alerts to communicate driving intentions clearly to human drivers, significantly reducing collision risks.

Hutchison Ports UK’s guests were able to view a Q-Truck at close quarters and witness others in full quayside operations. The event was marking the arrival of the first two units from an order for a further 34 ATs from Westwell – 34 already being in operation at the Trinity Terminal.

A STEP FORWARD
The second batch of machines feature a step forward in LiDAR technology, said Cheng, who is Executive Director of Hutchison Ports. “They will help us to reduce emissions, improve turnround time and improve safety. We have a skilled and experienced workforce and by integrating the ATs into our operations, we are setting new standards of efficiency and resilience.”

The improvements incorporated into the new ATs are being retrofitted to Felixstowe’s existing fleet to improve operational performance and efficiency, he added.

As the AT fleet is expanded and Felixstowe continues to invest in smart technologies, Hutchison is building a port ready for tomorrow, sharing a vision with Westwell of a smarter and greener future, said Cheng. “Collaboration has been key to make this possible.”

Kenny Tan said: “We have been working together since 2018. Early in 2025 we delivered the first 34 into Trinity Terminal. They have been running alongside human-driven trucks. And because they perform so well, we got an order for another 34.”

The ATs are fully electric and emissions-free – since April 2023, the port has used only electricity certified as being from renewable sources. A recently commissioned automated battery swap station allows the ATs to swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones in five minutes, to ensure maximum fleet availability. The Q-Truck has a cabinless design and is engineered for full autonomy, enabling continuous 24/7 operations at the port.

The ATs utilise a universal trailer interface, allowing direct connection with existing port trailers. This enables integration into the port’s live workflows, streamlining container movements, reducing idle time and enhancing overall efficiency, said Tan.

“Together, Westwell and Felixstowe are building a scalable model for sustainable logistics, laying the foundation for long-term collaboration that accelerates the global shift towards low-carbon, intelligent port operations.”

The ATs incorporate Westwell’s proprietary Aienergy technology and are powered by its PowerOnair battery swap system.