The vehicle, the latest evolution of hybrid technology, stopped in Long Beach for two weeks in June as it travels across the country on a demo tour.
The tractor is used to move cargo containers at port terminals to and from ships and on-dock rails as well as within the marine terminal yard.
Sam Wood, sales engineer for Capacity of Texas, shared some of the machine's details.
"This diesel-electric hybrid terminal tractor is a charge sustaining series hybrid that utilizes a constant and efficient rate generator to supply power, reducing fuel consumption by 60 percent and audible db by 30 percent," Wood explained. "The demo was very beneficial and gave our customers the opportunity to experience the PHETT first hand. It also provided an opportunity to gather valuable data through the testing done by the Port of Long Beach with the assistance of Ports America and TTI Hanjin."
Ports America Area Equipment Services Manager Kenton R. Pope expressed his favorable impression.
"We worked with the Capacity vehicle for two weeks and it seems to satisfy the parameters of the operational issues as well as the M&R issues," Pope said. "Compared to the other electrical hustlers we have reviewed and tested at the terminals, Capacity has done its homework in making a vehicle that fulfills the needs of a working terminal that operates around the clock. We look forward to the data that was gathered by the engineers for the Port of Long Beach."
Total Terminals International VP of Customer Service and Sales Frank Capo added, "At this time, TTI is very satisfied with the performance of the hustler and in particular the responsiveness of Capacity to suggestions we have made for further improvements. Being a steward of environmental initiatives, we cannot emphasize enough how impressed we are with how quiet the machine runs and our good fortune to have access to such an environmentally friendly vehicle."
The Port of Long Beach, although not financially involved in the product, had its technical consultant, TIAX, develop a test plan for this machine to gather engine data for fuel economy and emissions, operator acceptance and service and maintenance requirements. It will survey drivers and maintenance advisors. These results should be available sometime in August.
Ports America, headquartered in Iselin, N.J., is the largest independent port terminal operator in North America, providing terminal management and a full suite of stevedoring and related services, including portside automotive processing services. Ports America, including its predecessor companies, has more than 85 years of experience operating American seaports.
Its current business includes 50 ports and 97 terminals in North America, handling containers, roll on/roll off cargo, general cargo and cruise ship passengers and luggage. Volume in 2008 included 12.9 million TEU, 4.5 million vehicles, 9.1 million tons of general cargo and 1.8 million cruise ship passengers. As one of the largest employers of maritime labor in North America, Ports America employs more than 12,000 people each day at its operations, including full-time equivalent employees. Additional information may be found on www.portsamerica.com.
