The project represents the largest automated vehicle charging program at any port in the United States. Tritium's Veefil-PK 175kW DC High Power Chargers (HPCs) will be equipped with Stäubli's Quick Charging Connector (QCC) to enable the fast and automatic charging of all the port's fleet of electric-drive terminal tractors, which are supplied by TransPower.
"The rollout of both the vehicles and the chargers at the Port of Long Beach will demonstrate the ability to reduce emissions while providing reliable and clean solutions to the port," said Jeff Wolfe, President, Americas, Tritium.
"The key to ports operating at their optimum is efficiency, and the solution Tritium and Stäubli will provide to SSA Marine ensures the terminal tractors charge automatically, at the fastest speed possible."
The Tritium chargers will automatically and simultaneously charge 33 terminal tractors at once, with Stäubli's QCC enabling the automatic connection to a receptacle on each vehicle, creating a zero-touch operating environment. The QCC is touch-protected on both sides of the connector, making it possible to transmit high levels of power safely and quickly, ensuring the rapid recharge of energy storage devices. The QCC connection device offers a reliable and fully automated solution, enabling the connection of electrical vehicles for battery charging without human intervention.
Deliveries of the vehicles are scheduled to begin later this year through to October 2020, with the chargers set to be installed towards the end of 2019.
The deal with SSA Marine is part of a $50 million grant the Port of Long Beach obtained from the California Air Resources Board's Zero and Near Zero Emission Freight Facility (ZANZEFF) program. ZANZEFF funds transform emissions reduction strategies at freight facilities throughout the state.
The project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions- particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Tritium and Stäubli are collaborating with SSA Marine to finalize the design and operation of the chargers. Southern California Edison (SCE) is adding additional power to the port.
