New York, New Jersey, and West Coast States Fund Electric
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is dedicating $45 million from a federal grant for electric trucks and chargers.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is spending $45 million to spur electric truck adoption at its ports. This funding is part of a larger $451 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports program, awarded in 2024.
On September 3, 2026, the Port Authority announced the partnership with the nonprofit CALSTART. The goal is to increase the use of electric trucks and other zero-emission equipment at its facilities.
Funding Breakdown for Port Electrification
Most of the $45 million is allocated for buying vehicles and installing on-site infrastructure. A smaller portion is set aside for building off-site charging hubs.
| Item | Allocation | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-emission trucks, yard tractors, and on-site infrastructure | $39 million | Vehicle purchases and supporting port infrastructure |
| Off-site electric truck charging hubs | $5 million | Building up to five charging hubs within 10 miles of a port |
Port Authority and CALSTART staff will now begin outreach to trucking stakeholders. This will include in-person presentations. CALSTART is also developing dashboards to track the programs' progress through 2028.
The larger $451 million EPA grant funds other initiatives too. These include electrifying cargo equipment and providing plug-in stations for docked ships. A separate $3 million EPA grant will fund a Port Community Advisory Council for workforce training.
A West Coast Charging Corridor Emerges
Separately, three West Coast states are collaborating with international partners on a major charging route. California, Oregon, and Washington have joined with British Columbia in Canada and Baja California in Mexico.
They announced the "BC2BC" (British Columbia to Baja California) zero-emission vehicle corridor on August 26, 2026. It will run along Interstate-5. The program states that once built, freight operators will have charging assurance along the entire West Coast.
The initial buildout plans for 20 electric charging stations and 3 hydrogen fueling stations. The I-5 corridor currently sees an average of 10,000 trucks per day.
Industry Stakeholders Position Themselves
This push for infrastructure comes as companies prepare for growth. Tesla's Class 8 Semi truck is now in volume production. The electric truck firm ZM Trucks also participated in the BC2BC launch event.
ZM Trucks, the US branch of Japan's ZO Motors, announced plans in 2024 to manufacture battery electric and fuel cell electric trucks in the United States. The company exhibited a vehicle at the Port of Long Beach event alongside Tesla and Volvo.
The BC2BC corridor is part of the global Drive to Zero initiative, which CALSTART also supports in the U.S. Other partners include the University of California, Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and the California State Transportation Agency.
