We are an industry-wide strategic alliance, dedicated to making battery-electric container handling equipment affordable and accessible.

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Working for a net-zero port industry

Working for a net-zero port industry

Container handling equipment is a critical enabler of port operations, used to move containers on and off ships across the world’s container ports.

940 container ports around the world

120,000 container handling equipment units

10-15 million tons of CO2e every year

The numbers

100,000 – 120,000 container handling equipment units need to be decarbonized;

Terminal tractors

~52,000 units
~3-4 MtCO2e

Straddle carriers

~7,500 units
~1-2 MtCO2e

Lift trucks

~9,300 units
~1-2 MtCO2e

Rubber tyred gantry1

~21,300 units
~3-4 MtCO2e

Ship-to-shore

~7,800 units
~2-3 MtCO2e

Source: Reaching a tipping point in Battery-Electric Container Handling Equipment, 2023. RTGs can be untethered in some cases.

Why ZEPA?

The challenges and benefits of battery-electric

Battery-electric container handling equipment is not yet competitive on affordability & accessibility with diesel – several levers can close the gap and accelerate adoption

Affordability

Challenge: BE-CHE is currently more expensive than diesel CHE

Accessibility

Challenge: BE-CHE value chain does not have the scale required for a large roll-out, implementation is often complex

Attractiveness

Immediate benefits: BE-CHE immediately eliminates stailpipe emissions

Levers to improve competitiveness (focus of ZEPA)

Benefits

  • Technology learning effects
  • Reduced charging downtime
  • Standardisation & decoupling
  • Scaled production capacity
  • Standardisation & decoupling
  • Power purchase agreements
  • Workforce training

Benefits

  • No scope 1 emissions
  • Lower scope 2 emissions
  • No air pollutants
  • Lower levels of vibration & noise

Source: Reaching a tipping point in Battery-Electric Container Handling Equipment, 2023

Why ZEPA?

ZEPA aims to accelerate port decarbonization by making battery-electric container handling equipment affordable and accessible this decade

MISSION

Make untethered battery-electric container handling equipment affordable and accessible by 2030

VISION

Accelerate port decarbonization

Why BE-CHE?

Port stakeholders to accelerate their decarbonization efforts

Zero-emission CHE is battery-electric or hydrogen-electric. Our analysis shows that battery-electric CHE is the more realistic solution in the short to medium-term. It is not yet competitive on affordability and accessibility with diesel, but it can become the cheapest option in the next 2-8 years.

Read out the analyses

Terminal Operators

For terminal operators, meeting emission reduction targets requires the decarbonization of CHE, which accounts for ~50-60% of their scope 1 and scope 2 emissions.

OEMs

For OEMs, meeting terminal operators’ transition requirements is a clear commercial opportunity to develop low-emission CHE. Additionally, it reduces their downstream scope 3 emissions from equipment use.

Port Authorities

For port authorities, decarbonizing CHE (Container Handling Equipment) is essential to meet emission reduction targets (both at port- and national level) and to deliver environmental and social benefits, such as better air quality and lower healthcare costs.

Shipping line operators

For shipping line operators, decarbonizing CHE is required to abate scope 3 emissions and meet growing demand from beneficial cargo owners for end-to-end low-carbon supply chains.

ZEPA takes collective action across 4 workstreams to accelerate the adoption of battery-electric CHE

Projected Demand

Voluntary Design Standards

Power Infrastructure Roll-out

Adoption Incentives