Red Hook Container Terminal Begins Commercial Operation of Fleet of 10 Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Battery Electric Yard Tractors
Interviews available at Red Hook Terminal--public officials, terminal CEO, truckers, community leaders
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Port Newark, NJ--Red Hook Container Terminals LLC will showcase its new fleet of ten BYD zero-emission battery electric yard tractors which are being operated in regular commercial duty service at its container terminal in Port Newark, New Jersey. The Red Hook fleet represents the single largest private deployment of zero-emission battery electric trucks in the eastern United States to date. The zero-emission battery electric yard tractors are being used for both on-site cargo container movement and for making runs to the other terminals at Port Newark and Port Elizabeth and to the Millennium Rail yard. The yard tractors and charging infrastructure will be on display for inspection.
This zero-emissions breakthrough occurs after several years of cooperative effort between Red Hook Container Terminals LLC, the community-based Coalition for Healthy Ports (CHP), and the Port Authority of NY&NJ (PANYNJ).
"I am happy to stand with Red Hook Container Terminal who is leading the way and is committed to 100% electrification of all of its equipment and port operations," said Kim Gaddy, NJ and National Environmental Justice Director, Clean Water Action and Member of the Coalition for Healthy Ports. "We urge other port terminals and companies in the logistics industry to make the same commitment. Our children, communities and port workers have suffered long enough from dirty air and the effects of climate change. It is time to reduce climate pollutants and convert all power to clean renewable energy, particularly in overburdened communities such as Newark and Elizabeth."
Red Hook operates the cross-harbor barging operation that eliminates tens of thousands of truck trips per year off the roads of New Jersey and New York and so the deployment represents the most recent example of Red Hook’s continuing leading role in the fields of port-related environmental stewardship and global sustainability.
The Red Hook zero-emission battery electric truck fleet project was developed and managed by Climate Change Mitigation Technologies LLC (CCMT), the leading New Jersey-based developer and manager of zero-emission truck and bus projects for public and private fleets. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection funded a portion of the project using Volkswagen Mitigation Trust funds and Red Hook funded the balance of vehicle and project costs.
CCMT is partnered with Hudson County Motors, Inc. in Secaucus, New Jersey, one of the largest truck dealers in northern New Jersey, and the first BYD Motors truck dealer in the nation.
BYD Motors is the leading electric truck and bus manufacturer in the world, with over 14,000 battery electric trucks and 65,000 electric buses deployed worldwide. BYD has US factory operations in Lancaster, CA, and a regional service and parts center in Lodi, New Jersey. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy is BYD’s largest institutional shareholder.
The BYD model 8Y yard tractors being deployed by Red Hook Container Terminals LLC are third-generation equipment that come with 217 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs that have 241 horsepower and are capable of pulling loads of up to 102,000 lbs GVWR. They can operate continuously for up to 12 hours or more before recharging or can operate 24/7 with opportunity charging during shifts. AC and DC charging is available. DC fast charging takes approximately 2 hours from a 20% state of charge. Early operational results indicate that the yard tractor can operate two whole shifts before needing re-charging.
Quotes Listed in Tentative Speaking Order of the Media Event
NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said:
“Improving air quality in communities already overburdened by pollution while we reduce the vehicle emissions that fuel climate change is a priority for Governor Murphy, who has made climate action an imperative across all state agencies,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. “DEP is proud to be a partner in Red Hook’s historic deployment of battery electric trucks and we encourage others to follow their lead because we can only confront the climate crisis and improve public health through collaboration and partnership.”
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Port Commerce Division Director Sam Ruda said:
“These zero-emission electric yard tractors do not represent the finish line as far as meeting the seaport’s goal to reduce emissions. But it’s a major step forward,” said Sam Ruda, director of the Port Department of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “It affirms both that the technology is developing rapidly and is applicable to container terminals, and it underscores the role the public and private sectors are playing in making it a reality. Electrifying these yard tractors is strong evidence of how the Port Authority and its partners are moving forward to reduce emissions impacts from cargo operations.”
Newark Deputy Mayor, Economic and Housing Director Allison Ladd said:
“Today, we have seen the future of Port Newark. It is a clean, safe and all-electric future where Newark no longer suffers from the health and environmental damage caused by fleets of carbon-reliant vehicles. We are a step closer to that future thanks to the relentless advocacy of the Coalition for Healthy Ports, the strong raised voices of Newark residents, the committed leadership of Mayor Baraka, Governor Murphy and the Port Authority, plus Red Hook Container Terminal, a visionary major port business.”
Red Hook Container Terminal LLC President & CEO Mike Stamatis said:
“Red Hook has always taken the health of the communities it operates in, its workers, and the planet seriously. Our Cross-Harbor Barging Operation between our facilities in Port Newark and Red Hook Brooklyn remove an estimated 30,000 truck trips off of New Jersey and New York City streets every year, reducing local diesel truck air pollution in the community and C02 emissions in the atmosphere. It is both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. We are now going to the next level by eliminating diesel air pollution and CO2 emissions at our Port Newark facility that we expect will benefit of our neighbors in Newark, our workers, and the planet. This project was a long-time in the making and a large investment, but it is an investment we believe will return dividends in terms of public health, operational costs, and efforts to save the planet. This is a giant step for Red Hook and we hope others will take giant steps because now is the time to join the fight against climate change. We greatly appreciate our partners at the Port Authority, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Climate Change Mitigation Technologies LLC, BYD Motors Inc., and Hudson County Motors who helped make this day a reality.”
Kim Gaddy, NJ and National Environmental Justice Director, Clean Water Action and Member of the Coalition for Healthy Ports said:
"I am happy to stand with Red Hook Container Terminal who is leading the way and is committed to 100% electrification of all of its equipment and port operations. We urge other port terminals and companies in the logistics industry to make the same commitment. Our children, communities and port workers have suffered long enough from dirty air and the effects of climate change. It is time to reduce climate pollutants and convert all power to clean renewable energy, particularly in overburdened communities such as Newark and Elizabeth."
Climate Change Mitigation Technologies LLC Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer James Sherman said:
“It has been said that leadership is about knowing the way, going the way, and showing the way. I would like to congratulate Mike Stamatis and his Red Hook team for knowing, going, and showing the world one of the best ways that marine terminals can have an immediate impact in their local communities and the global fight against climate change. The zero emission battery electric yard tractors deployed at the Red Hook Container Terminal can perform the most demanding duty-cycles in the Port without polluting local communities or the planet. When my partner Ray Kenard and I first-contacted all the marine terminal operators back in 2016, only Mike Stamatis invited us in for a meeting to hear more. That was five years ago, and while the road had some twists and turns, Mike’s commitment was unwavering and here we are. I want to thank our partners at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, at Hudson County Motors, at BYD, and at RSM Construction Group, all of whom collaborated to make this project a reality.
The planet is in a climate emergency and we are in the race of our lives to save the planet for our children, their children, and for the love of nature and life here on earth. There is a long, steep road to go, but history will record that, for marine terminals in the eastern United States, it started here at Red Hook Terminal Port Newark in 2021.”
Aaron Gillmore, Vice-President of Electric Trucks, BYD Motors
“Thanks to the collaborative efforts between Hudson County Motors, Climate Change Mitigation Technologies, and Red Hook Container Terminal CEO Mike Stamatis, BYD Class 8 Electric Yard Trucks are hard at work at Port Newark’s Red Hook Container Terminal. BYD brings a combination of innovative and safe battery technology, and the experience of over 14,000 successful deployments of heavy duty electric trucks worldwide to the Garden State of New Jersey. We are proud to be here, and proud to be part of the clean energy transition benefitting the Newark community and contributing to better health for workers.”
Paul Rypkema, Jr., President, Hudson County Motors said:
“We are proud to partner with Red Hook Terminals, CCMT and the NJDEP for the deployment of the 10 Zero emission BYD Yard Tractors. Red Hook has been very focused on “going green” and Mike Stamatis and the Red Hook Team has spearheaded this effort with passion and determination to make New Jersey a cleaner place to live. It has been a pleasure working with the Red Hook team to ensure that this transition from diesel yard tractors to Zero emission electric is seamless. We look forward to working with all for years to come and thank them for the opportunity.”
About Red Hook Terminals LLC
Red Hook Terminals LLC is a multi-faceted marine terminal developer, operator, stevedore and operator of the Cross-Harbor Barging Operation with three facilities in the Port of NY/NJ complex and operations in Freeport, Texas and Baltimore, Maryland. With cargo handling capabilities and productivity second to none in the Port of NY&NJ, Red Hook Terminals is able to handle any type or size cargo. Whether it is a bulk commodity such as aggregates, steel or lumber, reefer cargo, containers, yachts, heavy lifts, autos, high and heavy (lolo and roro), OOG or special project cargoes, Red Hook Terminals is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of our customers. Red Hook is also leading the way in the development of and use of clean energy and technology, such as the largest dedicated off-shore wind port project in the Port of NY/NJ to serve the needs of the emerging off-shore wind industry in the United States, and the first and largest deployment of heavy-duty zero emission yard tractors along the eastern seaboard of the United States and the first at a Port of NY&NJ marine terminal.
About Climate Change Mitigation Technologies LLC
CCMT helped pioneer the battery electric truck and bus industry and is now the leading New Jersey-based developer and manager of zero emission truck and bus fleet projects. CCMT has developed and arranged public and private funding for multiple medium and heavy-duty battery electric truck and bus projects across New Jersey involving a wide variety of vehicles including garbage trucks, yard tractors, shuttle buses, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) school buses, and box delivery trucks. We focus on projects in Overburdened Communities.
CCMT also delivers project management services for electric fleet projects including engineering, procurement, and construction services. CCMT was the project manager for the design, installation, integration, and optimization of the charger bank for Red Hook Container Terminal’s yard tractor fleet. The charging system includes chargers, automated charging control software, and telematic systems. Wherever possible, CCMT looks to incorporate solar + storage to create a microgrid that can provide low-cost renewable energy and continue to supply power during grid power failures.
About Coalition for Healthy Ports (CHP) and Clean Water Action
A bi-state alliance founded in 2007 by environmental and environmental justice activists, truck drivers, faith leaders, labor unions, and community advocates fighting for zero emissions, clean air, good jobs, healthy communities, environmental and economic justice at the Ports of New York and New Jersey and throughout the logistics industry. Particular emphasis is given to port-adjacent communities that are disproportionately overburdened by port pollution and operations. www.coalitionforhealthyports.org
Since the organization’s founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking, and people power to the table. Clean Water Action is a founding member of Coalition for Healthy Ports (CHP) and serves on its steering committee. www.cleanwater.org/nj
About BYD
The Official Sponsor of Mother Nature™, BYD, the world’s leading electric vehicle company, is dedicated to creating a “total solution.” Globally, BYD is committed to corporate social responsibility, deeply monitoring our supply chain in terms of human rights, environmental safety, hazardous substance control and intellectual property rights. We only select suppliers and dealers who share our commitment to just labor practices, human rights standards and the environment.
BYD has 220,000 employees across the globe, including nearly 1,000 in the United States and Canada. For more information, please visit
About Port Authority of NY&NJ
2021 marks the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s centennial year. The bi-state agency builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. Founded in 1921, the agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the states of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit.