The California Air Resources Board has preliminarily awarded $41 million to the Port of Los Angeles to establish network to transport goods throughout southern California using hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.

CARB is fronting half of the $82.5 million needed for the initial phase the Zero Emission and Near-Zero Emission Freight Facilities with the partners providing the other half in match funding. The project was proposed with support from Toyota, Kenworth, and Shell to provide a large-scale “shore to store” plan and a hydrogen fuel-cell-electric technology framework for freight facilities to structure operations for future goods movement.

“This matching grant from CARB’s California Climate Investments program is critically needed funding support to develop and commercialize the next generation of clean port equipment and drayage truck, as well as the infrastructure to support it,” said Gene Seroka, Port of Los Angeles executive director. “This grant funds a public-private collaboration that is representative of our commitment to being a ‘market maker’ through collaborative technology and fuel infrastructure development with industry leaders like Toyota, Kenworth and Shell.”

The project phase includes collaboration between Toyota and Kenworth to develop ten new hydrogen fuel-cell electric Class 8 trucks based on the Kenworth T680. The trucks would move goods throughout Southern California and will be operated by Toyota Logistics Services, UPS, Total Transportation Services, and Southern Counties Express.

Two new large capacity hydrogen fueling stations will be developed by Shell and will join three additional stations located at Toyota facilities to form an integrated hydrogen fueling network in the region.

The project also expands the use of zero emissions technology in off-road and warehouse equipment. This includes two zero emissions yard tractors to be operated at the Port of Hueneme as well as expanded use of zero-emission forklifts at Toyota’s port warehouse.

The project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that cap-and-trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve public health and the environment.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Port of Los Angeles, Kenworth, and Toyota to work together to both explore and drive advanced zero emission technologies that will play a critical role in the clean trucks of the future,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president.