The two battery-powered top handlers were designed and manufactured by Taylor Machine Works in the U.S.

Often known as the top picks, the top handlers are off-road vehicles with an overhead boost for loading containers weighing up to 100,000 pounds on trucks and trains, unloading them and storing them on terminals between pick-ups and deliveries.

“We are pleased with performance results that we are receiving from drivers, mechanics and Everport management as the equipment is tested daily in real-world conditions,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. 

The top handlers work on a one-megawatt battery built to operate between charges for up to 18 hours.

Each top handler has a data logger for the tracking of operating hours, charging frequency, energy usage and other performance indicators. In addition, drivers and mechanics have feedback on the maneuverability, noise level and protection of the machinery.

The battery-powered top handlers are a key component of the $7.7 million Everport Advanced Cargo-Handling Demonstration Project in the Port. The California Energy Commission (CEC) is funding a large-scale zero-emission energy initiative with a $4.5 million sustainability grant.

The Everport demonstration is one of 16 initiatives in which the port participates in the development of near-zero emissions and zero-pollution vehicles, emission reduction systems and alternative fueling and charging stations.

“We are doing everything possible to advance commercially feasible solutions to meet our goal of transitioning all cargo-handling equipment to zero emissions by 2030," Seroka added.

Maritime Business World