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Propane Delivers Multiple Solutions to Busy Ports
Pr opane Deliv er s Multiple Solutions t o B us y P orts
educe Emissions
Pressed to Reduce Emissions
o R
Pr
essed t
s emissions regulations across the country engine competes with diesel engines on performance,
squeeze port operations for measurable im- providing 270 horsepower with 565 lb-ft of torque.
provement, authorities are discovering that “The demand for clean and reliable power
Apropane can deliver immediate benefits that in ports continues to increase, but the availability of
other energies simply can’t match. infrastructure is slowing clean energy efforts,” said Jim

Propane use in port applications – both inland Bunsey, senior manager of business development for
and coastal – is growing in popularity as emissions the Propane Education & Research Council.
regulations and clean energy demands surge. From “Propane is a viable solution
light- and medium-duty vehicles to terminal tractors,
forklifts, and commercial generators, propane is per- because it is a clean alternative en-
fect for powering the large-capacity loads that ports ergy source that is readily available
handle daily. to both charge electric vehicles and

Many port authorities and terminal operators power other applications in ports.”
are starting air quality compliance initiatives by up- Even as electric vehicles become more prev-
grading their diesel equipment with alternatives like alent in port operations, EV infrastructure availability
propane- and electric-powered cargo handling equip- and cost have greatly hindered adoption. Propane
ment. offers attractive off-grid charging solutions.

Propane-powered terminal tractors cost sig- Capable of charging electric medium-sized
nificantly less than electric units and have readily avail- vehicles, forklifts and yard tractors, mobile genera-
able refueling infrastructure. Plus, during real-world tors allow users to take the power where it’s needed
testing, propane-powered terminal tractors proved to without costly infrastructure updates. Propane-pow-
be 99% cleaner than diesel counterparts without any ered mobile charging units are a cost-effective and
drop-off in payload or power. low emissions strategy to immediately provide clean
In 2022, researchers collected and evaluated energy power to on-road vehicles, reach stackers, top
data from two port tractors – one powered by propane handlers, forklifts, terminal tractors, and more.
and the other powered by diesel – performing nor- With power generation technology advance-
mal operations throughout the terminal. The results ments, port authorities can purchase powerful mobile
confirmed the propane-powered tractor yielded 99 charging infrastructure for vehicle classes 1-8, ranging
percent fewer NOx composite and idle emissions than from 90 to 400kW. These units are powered by pro-
the diesel tractor. Additionally, the propane tractor pane generators, which are about 98% cleaner than
produced 77.5% fewer THC idle emissions, 14% fewer diesel units.
brake-specific carbon dioxide emissions, and 75% few-
er TPM emissions than its diesel counterpart. “Mobile charging units are a strong invest-
ment for terminal operators and businesses alike
Those study results helped drive the Port New- because you can take them where you need,” said
ark Container Terminal authorities decide to replace Bunsey. “You’re not stuck in one place, so fleets and
their diesel fleet with propane yard tractors to cut infrastructure can evolve with the business.”
emissions and meet environmental goals.
With local, state, and federal grants available
Manufactured by MAFI and powered by Power for port upgrades such as propane-powered terminal
Solutions International’s 8.8-liter propane engine, equipment, refueling and recharging infrastructure —
these propane yard tractors are more than 90% along with provisions included in the latest infrastruc-
cleaner than mandated U.S. Environmental Protec- ture bill — the cost of compliance is more manage-
tion Agency standards and certified to the optional able than ever.■
ultra-low NOx emissions standard. Plus, the propane

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