There has been a promising public-private partnership spearheaded by the Port of Los Angeles that has yielded an all-electric drayage truck called the Nautilus E-30. This truck is the first step in the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan to decrease emissions and increase sustainability during storage and maintenance tasks. The partnership between Balqon Corporation, Port of Los Angeles and the South Coast Air Quality Management District required an initial investment of $527,000.
The Balqon-produced Nautilus E-30 can travel 60 miles when fully charged without filled cargo bays. The Nautilus was able to pull 60,000 pounds at 40 miles per hour during test runs initiated in January 2008. There were no emissions tests published for the all-electric truck though the port’s fleet could see 35,000 tons of emissions removed if every vehicle is replaced with a Nautilus. This figure was developed by taking the average emissions of traditional trucks commissioned by the port multiplied by the 1.2 million trips in 2006.
The Port of Los Angeles and the city’s taxpayers are getting a deal on the Nautilus E-30 in more than one way. Balqon has promised a royalty payment of $1,000 for each Nautilus that is sold once the product is available worldwide. This payment recognizes the port district’s unique role in developing the technology needed for the Nautilus E-30. Los Angeles residents will benefit from the port district’s $5.6 million investment in five electric trucks, 20 electric hustles and additional drayage trucks. The reduction in smog brought on by industrial vehicles is accompanied by reduced fuel prices and increased affordability for city fleet purchases.
The 336 volt lead-acid battery used in the Nautilus E-30 may not be the perfect power source for an industrial vehicle due to short charging life. Port authorities, researchers and legislators need to observe the prototype’s performance before trashing traditional vehicles for all-electric trucks. The best part about the Port of Los Angeles working with a private corporation like Balqon is the lesson provided to other municipalities. Mayors and executives can work together to develop new vehicles using zero emission fuel sources instead of relying on traditional consumer-supplier relationships.
