Why it matters: The expansion brings Port of Felixstowe's autonomous vehicle fleet to 68 units, making it the largest deployment of such vehicles in European port operations and supporting the facility's goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2035.
The details: The new vehicles are being supplied by Shanghai-based Westwell Technology and will feature enhanced sensor capabilities, working alongside the existing 34 units that were successfully deployed earlier this year at Trinity Terminal – representing Europe's first successful use of autonomous vehicles operating alongside conventional ones.
These vehicles are equipped with cutting-edge systems, including 128-line LiDAR, 360-degree camera vision, and monocular and stereo cameras with radar.
The big picture: The expansion has been enabled by the port's recently introduced private 5G network, one of the largest of its kind in the UK, which provides fast, reliable communication and control systems for the autonomous fleet.
A newly commissioned automated battery swap station enables trucks to exchange depleted power units for fully charged ones in just five to six minutes, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring maximum fleet availability.
What they're saying: Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO, said: "We are proud to be leading the way in autonomous operations in ports. Doubling our fleet of autonomous trucks will deliver even greater efficiency and resilience to our operation."
He added: "The increased use of battery-powered autonomous trucks will significantly support our ambition to achieve net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035."
Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell Technology, said: "Having the port fully automated with autonomous trucks shows how far we've come in terms of empowering ports' smart operation."
For context: The Port of Felixstowe is the UK's largest and busiest container port. It handles the biggest container ships in the world and operates the UK's busiest intermodal rail freight facility.
The bottom line: The doubling of autonomous truck operations at Felixstowe demonstrates how British ports are embracing advanced technology to improve efficiency whilst working towards environmental sustainability goals.
