Electric Trucks Earn Recognition At Canada’s Busiest Port

GCT, the terminal operator at the Port of Vancouver, has received the BC Hydro Luminaries Project of the Year award for its deployment of electric work trucks, marking a significant step in its efforts to reduce emissions at one of Canada’s busiest container terminals.

What Happened

The recognition centers on GCT’s integration of two specific Peterbilt electric vehicles into its daily operations: a 220EV lubrication service truck and a 520EV fuel tanker. The 220EV is tasked with maintaining the terminal’s rubber-tired gantry cranes, while the 520EV refuels older, diesel-powered equipment still in use across the Vanterm and Deltaport terminals. These vehicles are part of a broader fleet rollout described by Peterbilt as the largest of any terminal in Canada. The trucks operate without tailpipe emissions, addressing the high idle ratios and significant electric power take-off (ePTO) requirements typical of port premises.

Why It Matters

For GCT, this deployment is a critical component of its commitment to reduce absolute emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. The initiative also complements an existing fleet of Peterbilt 579EV Class 8 trucks used for container hauling, which are part of a data-sharing pilot funded by Canada’s ELECTRA program. This pilot provides heavily subsidized 60-month lease terms for new Class 8 electric semi-trucks and their charging infrastructure to five port shipping companies, aiming to measure the real-world benefits of electric drayage on first-mile delivery routes. Peterbilt executives noted that the zero-emission nature of these vocational trucks offers both environmental benefits and cost savings for operators.

The Bottom Line

GCT’s award-winning use of Peterbilt electric vocational trucks demonstrates the viability of electrifying heavy-duty support equipment in high-utilization port environments, supporting both immediate emission reductions and long-term net-zero goals.