Port of Tanjung Pelepas Deploys 21 Electric Terminal Tractors in Malaysia

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), a joint venture between MMC Group and APM Terminals, commissioned the first 21 electric terminal tractors (e-PMs) from an order of 52 units, becoming the first port facility in Malaysia to put this type of equipment into operation.

The units, supplied by Terberg Tractors Malaysia (TTM), will support the horizontal transport of containers within the terminal. TTM manufactures these vehicles in Pasir Gudang, Johor. PTP signed an acquisition agreement with TTM in December 2025 for the purchase of 52 e-PMs. The remaining 31 units are scheduled to be delivered in progressive batches until the end of September 2026.

The deployment is the result of a proof-of-concept conducted between 2023 and 2024. According to PTP, the evaluation showed that an electric terminal tractor generated 4,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per month, compared to 7,600 kilograms from a conventional unit. This represented a 48% reduction in emissions. PTP also reported that monthly operational costs per unit were 57% lower during the testing period.

The CEO of PTP, Mark Hardiman, stated that "these new assets are not solely aimed at advancing our sustainability ambitions. They are also an integral part of PTP's long-term expansion program, which will increase the port's handling capacity to 16.3 million TEUs annually by 2029, allowing us to offer greater capacity, reliability, and efficiency to support growing trade volumes and the future needs of our customers".

The terminal aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, as part of its roadmap towards net-zero emissions by 2050. PTP stated that it has progressively electrified its fleet of rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes since 2011, currently having 245 electric RTGs in operation. The incorporation of electric terminal tractors extends this program to horizontal transport equipment.

The Malaysian Minister of Transport, Loke Siew Fook, highlighted that "the commissioning of these e-PMs demonstrates the capability of Malaysian engineering and manufacturing to support world-class port operations. Beyond supplying the equipment, our teams have worked closely with PTP throughout the testing, commissioning, and operational readiness process to ensure that each unit operates reliably in a demanding terminal environment. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with PTP as the remaining units are brought into service in the coming months".

Once the remaining units are operational, PTP will operate all 52 e-PMs covered by the December purchase agreement.