The project team, led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), has built an Electric Top Loader (ETL) with a fuel cell range extender and wireless charging for demonstration at the Port of Los Angeles. This project is funded by a California Climate Investments grant awarded by the California Air Resources Board in 2017. The ETL was developed, integrated, and built by Hyster Yale Group with a fuel cell engine provided by Nuvera and wireless charging provided by WAVE. Air Products is supplying hydrogen to the project using an HF-150 mobile fueler. Fenix Marine Services is demonstrating the ETL in first and second shifts for their yard, marine, and rail operations at the Port of Los Angeles.
The objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate zero-emission, heavy-duty, off-road equipment for future commercialization by a major original equipment manufacturer (OEM). With the assembled team, this technology has the potential for widespread commercialization and significant transformation of the industry. The vertical integration of zero-emission equipment production by a large and well-regarded OEM provides a clear path towards commercialization. The project represents the commitment to develop advanced technologies that are necessary to meet California’s air quality and climate goals while achieving reductions of greenhouse gases, criteria pollutants, and toxic emissions. These emissions reductions at the Port of Los Angeles will benefit nearby disadvantaged communities.
The ETL began its demonstration in early October 2022, utilizing both onsite hydrogen refueling, and wireless charging deployed by the project team. The ETL operated in-service for a total of six months between October 2022 and April 2024. The project team collected and analyzed the ETL data and is providing insightful metrics on vehicle performance, and is supporting hydrogen fuel delivery to continue the successful demonstration of this new emerging technology.
