The Northwest Seaport Alliance has taken another step towards electrifying its cargo handling fleet with the arrival of a second battery-electric forklift at the East Blair One terminal, known as EB-1, in Tacoma Harbour.
The new machine reinforces the alliance's ongoing shift to zero-emission cargo handling and follows an earlier deployment of an electric forklift at the same facility. The move is intended to build operational experience with battery-electric equipment in a working terminal environment.
The deployment was enabled by a $2.63 million award from the Washington State Department of Transportation under its 2023–2025 Port Electrification programme, which funded the acquisition and placement of the vehicle at EB-1.
Key details
- Asset: second battery-electric forklift deployed at East Blair One (EB-1) Terminal.
- Location named in the report: EB-1 Terminal, Tacoma Harbour.
- Funding: $2.63 million award from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s 2023–2025 Port Electrification programme.
Funding and the electrification programme
The funding award from the Washington State Department of Transportation forms part of the agency's 2023–2025 Port Electrification programme and was cited as the means by which this latest electric forklift has been acquired and placed into service at the terminal. The association of the vehicle to that award indicates the deployment is part of a coordinated effort to replace or supplement diesel-powered handling equipment with battery-electric alternatives.
Operational significance
For the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the arrival of a second electric forklift at EB-1 constitutes a further milestone in a longer-term transition toward zero-emission cargo handling. Deploying multiple electric units at the same terminal allows operators and technicians to compare performance and maintenance needs under consistent operating conditions.
Port Technology International reported the development on 17 August 2026, noting the alliance's continuing interest in electrification and the link between the recent arrival and the WSDOT award. The story was published by Port Technology International and carried the same date.
The deployment at EB-1 should be seen as incremental but practical: adding successive electric machines permits terminals to develop charging infrastructure, adjust operating procedures and gather data that can inform larger-scale replacements of conventionally powered equipment. The funding mechanism used in this case illustrates how state-level programmes can underwrite early fleet conversions at commercial terminals.
Taken together, the second forklift at EB-1 demonstrates a methodical approach to adopting battery-electric handling equipment within established port operations and reflects the role of public grant programmes in accelerating initial purchases and trials.