Canada's Port of Vancouver Deploys Largest Electric Work Truck Fleet in Canada

GCT Global Container Terminals operates Peterbilt electric work trucks at Port of Vancouver, marking Canada's largest single-terminal electric truck deployment to cut diesel pollution and operational

GCT Global Container Terminals has deployed Peterbilt 520EV and 220EV electric work trucks at its Port of Vancouver terminal, representing the largest fleet rollout of electric work trucks at any Canadian terminal. This deployment—part of Canada’s ELECTRA program pilot—uses Peterbilt models with battery capacities up to 400 kWh (520EV) and 282 kWh (220EV), supporting 60-month leases for Class 8 trucks and charging infrastructure. The move directly targets GCT’s commitment to reduce absolute emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050, though these targets apply only to its Vanterm and Deltaport terminals. By integrating hydro power at a high-traffic port, the deployment cuts diesel pollution while lowering operational costs for port logistics—a critical step toward decarbonizing freight.

This shift advances mobility through scalable, renewable-powered heavy transport. The 60-month lease terms and hydro integration reduce long-term diesel dependency, making port operations more resilient to fuel price volatility. For the need of clean transportation, it demonstrates how electric work trucks can become cost-effective at scale without requiring new infrastructure beyond existing hydro networks.

What to watch: Verification of the 'largest fleet' claim (no exact count provided), whether emissions targets extend beyond GCT’s two terminals, and how the pilot’s success influences Canada’s broader freight electrification. The source notes the report date (October 12, 2026) likely contains a typo, but the deployment’s operational impact remains concrete.

Source: Electrek