Puerto Valparaíso and Chilquinta, together with SANY and the ZEAL Transport Coordinator, launched an unprecedented electromobility pilot this week for port cargo transport, which will allow testing a 100% electric tractor truck over the approximately 11 kilometers connecting the port with the Logistics Extension and Support Zone (ZEAL).
The initiative will allow companies in the sector to directly learn about the performance of this technology under the specific conditions of Valparaíso's port operation, considering its routes, slopes, and logistical demands. During the pilot, aspects such as vehicle performance, range, charging infrastructure, and the challenges associated with incorporating electromobility into heavy transport will be evaluated.
Cristián Martínez, general manager of the Chilquinta group of companies, stated that "other countries are making significant progress in electromobility. In fact, in countries like China, electric vehicles for domestic use are commonplace, and cargo transport is no exception. The technology has advanced significantly, and prices have also become much more efficient, as we have seen in our country. Initially, solar energy was also seen as expensive and distant, and in the short term, today we already have practically 70% of generation from clean sources."
The executive added that "in this same reality and connected with these changes, new technologies such as battery storage are being incorporated, and, of course, all of this has resulted in a price reduction that is making the incorporation of this new technology possible. So we are very interested in, of course, participating in the electrification of Chile."
Meanwhile, Gonzalo Le Dantec, Chairman of the Board of Puerto Valparaíso, commented that "the commitments to move towards carbon neutrality and greater electrification are very important, and we understand that this is a great step forward. Work carried out between one of our concessionaires and the company Chilquinta, together with other operators related to the world of electromobility, leads us to this first challenge. We understand that it is the beginning, but it is a very important first step to advance in making the development of port activity increasingly electromobile and increasingly carbon neutral to precisely move towards a better condition and greater commitment to the environment."
From the ZEAL Transport Coordinator, it was highlighted that this experience will bring new technology closer to those who directly know the demands of cargo transport and evaluate its possibilities of incorporation into the operation.
"I think we should give it some time. As we know, Valparaíso's geography is quite particular for the use of this type of equipment. Regardless, every year we have exponential advances in technology, and our commitment is always to innovation. We are eager to see how it turns out; we are willing to provide all facilities once we know the results," emphasized Matías Henríquez, General Manager of ZEAL.
Jaime Aballay, representative of the ZEAL Transport Coordinator and driver of the electric truck, stated that "in our group, we have 40 trucks that provide service to ZEAL, and today what we see is the spearhead. We are conducting the evaluation, comparing it with a combustion vehicle, and after that, we will generate a report to see all the benefits of this new technology, which is what is coming anyway."
For its part, SANY is the company that will provide the electric tractor truck for the development of the pilot, while Chilquinta Servicios will provide the necessary charging infrastructure for its operation. "What you can see here is a completely electric truck. These have been widely used in China and other countries; even in some ports in China, there is no longer driver-assisted driving. So what you are seeing is a future model to be implemented, which will now be tested in Chile, right at this moment," said Liu Bo, Global Sales Manager for SANY.
This pilot experience will provide concrete information from the operation itself to understand the opportunities and challenges presented by the incorporation of electric vehicles into cargo transport in the Valparaíso Region, demonstrating that electromobility is not built solely with electric vehicles but by uniting people, technology, energy, and infrastructure.
