In a landmark move signaling a major acceleration in port electrification, APM Terminals Elizabeth has placed an order for 96 electric terminal tractors from Orange EV.
Announced by Orange EV, the fleet procurement represents one of the largest single port electrification commitments in history. It forms a core component of the terminal’s broader modernization strategy and transition away from legacy diesel equipment at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
The agreement follows an official signing ceremony at the Port Elizabeth facility and arrives on the heels of a similar 40-truck expansion at APM Terminals Los Angeles (Pier 400) earlier this summer. Industry leaders note that these back-to-back deals highlight a broader turning point in the maritime sector, with major port operators moving past pilot testing to standardize around zero-emission yard fleets.
“This order, along with the Pier 400 order earlier this year, is evidence of an inflection point in ports as operators move past the pilot and testing phase to standardize around Orange EV’s turnkey solution,” Kurt Neutgens, CEO of Orange EV, said. “Many port operators are accelerating because real-world data shows the business case for electrification and the environmental case align.”
The newly ordered units are HUSK-e XP electric terminal trucks, manufactured at Orange EV’s facility in Kansas City, Kansas, and fully compliant with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA).
Designed for demanding, round-the-clock terminal environments, each vehicle features:
- Massive Hauling Capacity: Built to move up to 180,000 lbs. of combined weight.
- High-Capacity Power: Equipped with a 310-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery—the largest available battery pack in the Orange EV lineup.
- Proven Reliability: Backed by Orange EV’s fleet-wide performance metrics, averaging over 97% uptime across more than 33 million miles of real-world operation.
APM Terminals selected the equipment based on rigorous lifetime asset evaluations, factoring in operational uptime, proven field experience, parts availability, and service response standards rather than upfront costs alone.
The 96-truck order does not stand alone. The equipment upgrade coincides with a parallel agreement for 34 electric rubber-tired gantry cranes, bringing APM Terminals Elizabeth’s total zero-emission equipment overhaul to 130 units.
Handling approximately 28% of the port’s total container throughput—supporting over 600 vessel calls and 800,000 truck visits annually—the terminal’s multi-million-dollar green push is designed to expand capacity, bolster operational efficiency, and advance the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s long-term goal of achieving net-zero operations by 2040.
