On the road to zero emissions
by Eric Cohen
In California, EVs and zero-emission vehicles are everywhere. In fact, one in four new cars sold in California are zero-emission (battery electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell electric). But the state is pushing for even greater adoption of EVs with an eye on commercial vehicles. In fact, the latest regulation from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) phases out Class IV and Class V LSI forklifts – categories that largely operate on propane, gas, and natural gas – for use in California beginning in 2026. [1] With approximately 100,000 forklifts operating in California, this is a large step toward a world of zero emissions. Forklifts operate in many different industry sectors but are most prevalent in manufacturing and at freight facilities, such as warehouses, distribution centers, and ports.
Zero-emission ports
Let’s start with ports. Ports are a major hub of transportation – both from vehicles coming into port as well as vehicles driven around the port. In addition to forklifts, you’ll find shuttle buses for transporting staff and visitors everywhere.
One port company leading the industry in zero emissions is International Transportation Service (ITS). With shuttle buses at the Port of Long Beach, ITS has been a leader in reducing air pollution associated with port-related operations since 2006. Even before the San Pedro Bay ports adopted their original Clean Air Action Plan, ITS was the first container terminal operator to sign a full 20-year green lease with the Port of Long Beach, leading the way for ships calling at the Port of Long Beach to run on electricity at berth, using renewable fuels to power container yard equipment, and accelerating turnover of cargo handling equipment to the cleanest available technologies. ITS recently announced a first-of-its-kind program to pilot wireless charging of its Ford E-Transit.
Zero-emission airports
Today’s travelers fly on over 45,000 flights per day in the United States. But those planes aren’t the only vehicle on our airport tarmacs. Ground Support Equipment (GSEs), including airport shuttles, luggage tugs, belt loaders, pushbacks, meal transport, fueling trucks, and yes – forklifts – create a “city within a city” at every airport around the world.
Many of these vehicles have fixed routes, don’t travel many miles in a day, and maintain low average speeds – perfect for electrification. That’s why CARB – and other agencies – are promoting the development and use of zero-emission airport ground transportation. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration is urging U.S. airports to zero out their carbon emissions by 2050. [2]
If you’ve been in an airport lately, you’ve likely seen the golf cart type vehicles used as courtesy vehicles. Those are also great candidates for WiTricity’s wireless charging.
Zero-emission public transit
There are more than 714,000 buses on EU roads today [3] and close to one million in the United States [4]. California, alone, has nearly 95,000 buses. Maybe that’s why CARB has approved a first-of-its-kind regulation in the United States that sets a statewide goal for public transit agencies to gradually transition to 100 percent zero-emission bus fleets by 2040.
Like airport vehicles, most buses have a fixed route, and they return to a central terminal at the end of the day. And like airport vehicles, buses are perfect for electrification. They’re also perfect for wireless charging. School buses, in particular, can help the environment by providing vehicle-to-grid (V2G) service to stabilize our energy grid. Most school buses travel twice a day, returning to the parking lot waiting to pick up students. This is a perfect time to provide energy back to the grid – or provide energy to the school – as long as the bus is plugged into the grid. School buses charging wirelessly would always be connected to the grid and ready to supply energy and lower costs.
The common factor
Whether it’s forklifts, GSEs, or buses – everything is going electric. One thing they have in common is the ability to go wireless. Wireless charging reduces labor costs, eases charging complexity, and improves the ability for vehicles to participate in V2G.
[1] The rule also phases out the use of spark-ignited forklifts by large fleets, defined as 26 units or more, starting in 2028. The phase-out schedule is by model year and designed so that no forklift is required to be phased out before it is 10 years old. Smaller fleets will phase out use of spark-ignited forklifts starting in 2029.
[2] https://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/airports_climate_challenge