Pakistani port promises 70 new electric trucks in $76M ZEV push
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- Hutchison Ports Pakistan unveiled a $76 million decarbonization plan for its Karachi container terminal, committing to deploy more than 70 new electric terminal tractors alongside a broader fleet overhaul.
- Hutchison Port Holdings Limited is adding 20 Westwell E-Truck S1 tractors this October and 50 more before the end of 2027, citing strong performance from an initial fleet that logged over 450,000 km (~280,000 miles) in its first year.
- The $76M package also covers new electric material handlers, two electric remote-controlled quay cranes, 17 electric remote-controlled rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs), and 40 e-trailers with integrated e-axles and batteries.
- The Westwell E-Truck S1 — built in China despite its English name — delivers 3,800 Nm of torque and hauls up to 75 tons (165,000 lb. GCWR) on a 282 kWh LFP battery, with a 150 km range fully loaded.
- Hutchison notes the truck's battery can DC fast-charge from 10–80% in roughly 40 minutes or be swapped for a charged pack in about five minutes — a turnaround the company says beats refueling a comparable diesel hostler while costing less to maintain.
Why it matters: The 70-truck rollout turns a pilot into a fleet commitment at one of South Asia's busiest container hubs, and the 5-minute battery swap is the operational pitch: electric yard trucks can beat diesel on uptime and maintenance cost, not just emissions, which raises the bar for rival ports weighing their own electrification timelines.
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