LA and Long Beach Ports Weigh $60 Million Per-Trip Incentive to Speed Electric Truck Adoption

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach plan to jointly spend $60 million on a per-move incentive program paying battery-electric truck operators $60 for each one-way trip to or from the ports, as they push to meet clean-air deadlines. The proposal, a first for California, has not yet gone to the harbor commissions for approval. Funds would go to trucking companies, capped at $36,000 per truck per year. The money comes from a $10 clean truck fee the ports imposed on diesel rigs in 2022. Only about 4% of trucks visiting the ports are zero-emission, according to port data. Truckers say the aid is needed because electric rigs cost far more to buy and run. A used diesel truck runs about $70,000, while first-generation electric trucks exceed $500,000 and the new Tesla Semi will likely cost nearly $400,000 after taxes and fees. Shorter range, frequent charging, faster tire wear, battery replacement and high insurance add to operating costs. Long Beach targets zero carbon emissions by 2050; Los Angeles aims for all-electric short-haul trucks by 2035.