
The ability to quickly charge battery-electric commercial trucks remains a sticking point for many fleets because time is money. And this is where InductEV, already a pioneer in the EV charging space, enters the picture.
The company has just announced plans to begin deploying its powerful inductive chargers at the Port of Long Beach as part of a partnership with terminal operator International Transportation Service (ITS).
Called the "Hands-free Charging for Battery Electric Cargo Handling Equipment," the project is one of five awarded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) as part of a $33 million investment.
InductEV's chargers will be assigned to five of ITS' battery-electric cargo vehicles while parked. This is the first time the company's chargers are being installed at a West Coast port. Last year, the APM Terminals in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey received the same chargers.
The company has also previously worked with the state of Michigan, Electreon, Xos, BetterFleet, and Detroit Manufacturing on wireless charging operations and installations.
[Related: InductEV, BetterFleet expanding wireless fleet charging]
“We are proud to partner with the ITS team at the Port of Long Beach to help them realize their vision for a more efficient and environmentally friendly solution to power their fleet,” noted John F. Rizzo, president and CEO, InductEV. “As more port facilities and freight terminals electrify their fleets, we expect to see wireless inductive charging play a leading role in the process."
The wireless charging technology is quite impressive. For those who don't know, it works by utilizing inductive, in-ground charging pads that immediately activate when paired with another pad located beneath the vehicle, with current systems ranging from 75 kW up to 450 kW.
The technology offers operational, economic, and environmental advantages over any other zero-emission system architecture, according to InductEV. To date, the company has delivered more than 3 GWh of energy, equivalent of saving 650 metric tons of CO2, to American and European consumers through its wireless charging network.