Hyster will provide Malta Freeport Terminals with a battery electric empty container handler powered entirely by 650-volt lithium-ion batteries.
The equipment, utilising lithium-ion battery power for single empty container handling, can stack containers eight high and is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions at Malta Freeport Terminals
The battery electric container handler pilot aims to contribute to CMA CGM’s objectives to accelerate its energy transition and achieve net-zero carbon by 2050. To help achieve this decarbonisation objective across its shipping, inland, and logistics operations, the company has created ‘PULSE, CMA CGM Energy Fund’, to accelerate the decarbonisation of all of the CMA CGM Group’s activities and its value chain.
PULSE will fund the two-year pilot agreement for the Hyster® battery electric empty container handler, helping the CMA CGM Group and its subsidiary Terminal Link make reductions to its greenhouse gas emissions specifically at Malta Freeport in Birżebbuġa, Malta.
Alex Montebello, CEO of Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd, said: “The introduction of the Hyster battery electric empty container handler at Malta Freeport is an important step in reducing emissions in our Terminal operations as part of our commitment to eliminating carbon emissions by 2050.
“This collaboration will help us to leverage cutting-edge, sustainable technology to meet our decarbonisation goals while maintaining the efficiency and reliability that our operations demand.”
READ: Hyster implements new solution for electric vehicles
Niek Willems, Leader of Business Development, Global Ports and Terminals for Hyster, said: “We have a long-standing connection with CMA CGM, which has been a global Hyster customer for more than a decade and has used Hyster empty container handlers in its Malta Freeport Terminals since 2016.
“We also recently collaborated with them on the iTerminals 4.0 project, piloting programmes that harness digitalisation to explore smart maintenance for port equipment. Working together to pioneer the use of a lithium-ion battery-powered empty container handler is the next exciting development in this relationship.”
