Electric Truck Charging Station Rolls Out At Port Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Another major piece of clean energy equipment has rolled out at one of the busiest cargo ports on the East Coast.

On Monday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the opening of a new electric truck charging station at Port Newark.

The four direct current fast chargers are located at Port Newark’s truck welcome center at Marlin and Kellogg streets. Drivers are able to give their trucks an opportunity to charge at the station, topping off their vehicles before returning to their primary charging location.

Port Authority officials released the following technical details about the newest addition to the port:

“The charging station features four 350-kilowatt direct current (DC) fast chargers and offers compatibility with most widely available commercial electric truck models. Drayage truck operations typically involve trucks moving shipping containers short distances, such as from a container terminal to an area warehouse. A 10–15-minute opportunity charge could offer an additional 20-40 miles of range, depending on the load and driving conditions, allowing truckers to minimize downtime and complete more trips during the workday.”

The Port Authority overhauled the underground electrical system in the area in partnership with PSE&G, and elevated the station’s platform to mitigate flood risk.

The chargers will be available for use from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily initially due to the ongoing Port Street Corridor Improvement Project, which is routing additional traffic through the area during the current phase of that project. The station will be closed during peak hours to ensure smooth traffic flow entering and exiting the port complex. Hours will be expanded to around-the-clock availability in late 2025. Charging cost is $0.45/kilowatt per hour plus tax. A $1 per minute idling fee may be enacted based on site utilization.

As of the seaport’s latest air emissions inventory, drayage truck operations represent nearly 48 percent of port-wide greenhouse gas emissions – by far the largest share, officials said.

Making it more convenient to charge vehicles within the port complex may give drivers some extra incentive to switch to electric trucks, officials added.

“Our promise to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 reaches beyond the Port Authority itself to our operational partners,” Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton said.

“We want to add charging infrastructure wherever possible, from the East Coast’s busiest port to our airports and at Port Authority facilities across the region to help every facet of our transportation ecosystem become more environmentally friendly,” Cotton said.

“With these new chargers, we’re promising drayage operators that if they invest in electric trucks, we can help get them where they need to go,” agreed Bethann Rooney, port director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

• See Related: Busy Cargo Terminal At Port Newark Is Getting A Huge Boost From Solar Power

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