Ports : Port of Abidjan and Bollore Ports receive 36 electric towing vehicles

The Port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, has taken delivery of 36 electric towing vehicles which will equip its new container terminal to meet future demand, according to Bollore Ports.

In a statement, Bollore Ports said the new vehicles were built by Gaussin, specialists in smart, zero-emission technology for industrial environments.

The terminal operator said the vehicle order, for a total of €9.9 million ($11.98 million) is one of the commitments made by the leading shareholders of the Côte d’Ivoire Terminal, Bolloré Ports and APM Terminals as part of the public-private partnership signed with the Côte d’Ivoire authorities. It is notably part of the objective to make the new port a pioneer in eco-responsibility, the company pointed out.

The electric towing vehicles, to be delivered in late 2021, are 100% electric and emit no CO2 emissions or noise pollution. They serve to reduce the cost of energy consumed at terminals by 70%. Powered by LMP® batteries by Blue Solutions, the new handling machines offer top-level reliability, range and safety.

A result of the synergies between Bolloré Ports, Blue Solutions and Gaussin, the electric towing vehicles will reduce the environmental footprint of the future container terminal. Côte d’Ivoire Terminal plans to promote eco-responsible logistics solutions on the West African coast that are more respectful of people and their environment and which contribute to the Green Terminal certification programme.

Koen De Backer, managing director, Côte d’Ivoire Terminal, said, “This electric equipment, combined with the efforts to protect biodiversity, will shrink the carbon footprint of our business activities.

“This is a priority for us. The aim of Côte d’Ivoire Terminal is to innovate and accelerate its energy transition with the support of the Autonomous Port of Abidjan.

“The success of the initial electric towing vehicles rolled out by Gaussin at other port terminals in Africa bears out the relevance of our choice.”

The Port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, has taken delivery of 36 electric towing vehicles which will equip its new container terminal to meet future demand, according to Bollore Ports.

In a statement, Bollore Ports said the new vehicles were built by Gaussin, specialists in smart, zero-emission technology for industrial environments.

The terminal operator said the vehicle order, for a total of €9.9 million ($11.98 million) is one of the commitments made by the leading shareholders of the Côte d’Ivoire Terminal, Bolloré Ports and APM Terminals as part of the public-private partnership signed with the Côte d’Ivoire authorities. It is notably part of the objective to make the new port a pioneer in eco-responsibility, the company pointed out.

The electric towing vehicles, to be delivered in late 2021, are 100% electric and emit no CO2 emissions or noise pollution. They serve to reduce the cost of energy consumed at terminals by 70%. Powered by LMP® batteries by Blue Solutions, the new handling machines offer top-level reliability, range and safety.

A result of the synergies between Bolloré Ports, Blue Solutions and Gaussin, the electric towing vehicles will reduce the environmental footprint of the future container terminal. Côte d’Ivoire Terminal plans to promote eco-responsible logistics solutions on the West African coast that are more respectful of people and their environment and which contribute to the Green Terminal certification programme.

Koen De Backer, managing director, Côte d’Ivoire Terminal, said, “This electric equipment, combined with the efforts to protect biodiversity, will shrink the carbon footprint of our business activities.

“This is a priority for us. The aim of Côte d’Ivoire Terminal is to innovate and accelerate its energy transition with the support of the Autonomous Port of Abidjan.

“The success of the initial electric towing vehicles rolled out by Gaussin at other port terminals in Africa bears out the relevance of our choice.”