At Pier 400 in Los Angeles, zero-emission operations are no longer a vision for the future — they are happening today.

In a first for the terminal, Pier 400 has completed a fully battery-electric export move, transporting a container from rail yard to vessel without a drop of diesel. Every stage of the journey relied on zero-emission equipment, demonstrating that large-scale decarbonization is not only possible but already underway.

How the Move Happened

The process began at the rail yard, where an electric cone cart unlocked double-stacked containers. An electric top handler lifted the container onto a battery-electric terminal tractor for transport across the yard to the truck exchange lanes. From there, an electric straddle carrier moved it to the handoff point, where an electric ship-to-shore crane loaded it aboard the vessel.

One of Pier 400’s battery-electric terminal tractors

Key progress includes:

• 71 battery-electric vehicles and cargo-handling equipment now operating at Pier 400, representing 15% of all equipment
• More than 50 charging stations in service — the largest number in the San Pedro Bay Port Complex

What Comes Next

This achievement is part of a broader strategy to cut emissions by improving efficiency, electrifying equipment and sourcing renewable energy. Pier 400 is committed to:

• 100% zero-emission cargo-handling equipment
• Net-zero operations by 2040, in line with APM Terminals’ global target

Collaboration Drives Progress

Partnerships make these results possible. Pier 400 works closely with:

• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Port of Los Angeles to secure reliable grid capacity and clean power
• Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to refine electric technology using real-world data
• Labor unions and training providers to prepare a future-ready workforce
• Regulators and grant programs to accelerate infrastructure development

The transition to zero-emission logistics is real, and Pier 400 is leading the charge.
Source: APM Terminals