Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicles contribute significantly to local air pollution, making up 32% of nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions and 23% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moreover, low-income communities and communities of color that are often neighbors of ports, trucking corridors, and warehouses face disproportional pollutant-related health impacts. Electrification of port vehicles and equipment can reduce emissions and the consumption of diesel fuel, improving air quality for port communities while creating good-paying jobs and strengthening domestic manufacturing prowess. 

Seaports, inland river ports, and intermodal hubs face evolving challenges in electrifying equipment. Electric vehicles and equipment have higher upfront costs than diesel counterparts. Vehicle charging and shore power infrastructure require significant grid capacity, requiring close collaboration with utilities and charging providers. Fleet and terminal operators, who have an intimate understanding of diesel equipment operation, are unfamiliar with the operational capabilities and the charging and maintenance requirements of electric equipment. Pilot projects provide valuable insights into these challenges, but crucial information is often not publicly available, meaning that most projects start at square one with limited knowledge.