Boosting air quality in and around America’s busiest freight hubs

Terminal trucks are essential for moving shipping containers and semi-trailers in freight operations. But with their high power demands, most run on diesel — a major source of harmful exhaust and poor air quality. In terminal settings, where trucks operate at low speeds and high power, diesel emissions are even worse than at highway speeds, posing serious health risks to nearby communities and on-site workers. Switching to all-electric terminal trucks not only eliminates diesel fuel and maintenance costs, it also improves driver satisfaction and helps protect the air quality of the entire region — making it a smart business and environmental choice.

Project Overview

Three fleets received funding via a U.S. Department of Energy grant to deploy four all-electric terminal trucks in Chicago and the Kansas City metro. MEC supported the project with a community workshop and developed a detailed report to share real-world insights and reliable data with fleets nationwide, promoting cleaner, more efficient freight operations.

Discover how electric terminal trucks are transforming freight handling.

This report highlights MEC’s multi-year project, backed by field-tested results and operational data. It outlines the financial, operational, and environmental advantages of going electric — offering a practical roadmap for fleets ready to make the switch.

 
Read the Report

To learn more about the project or to request a presentation, contact KT Engle at MEC.

This project is the result of partnerships from Kansas City to Chicago, with the goal of demonstrating the feasibility of battery-powered terminal trucks. The project is led by Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC), a nonprofit organization with a 37-year history of transforming energy use in the building and transportation sectors in the Kansas City region and beyond.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Award Number DE-EE0008887.