Port Authority and Calstart unveil $45M program for electric drayage trucks and chargers at NY‑NJ port

# What happened Calstart announced a $45 million initiative to accelerate electrification of trucks that move freight at and around the region's busy port complex. The program launches this fall, with outreach starting in the coming weeks.

# What the money covers

• Clean Truck Incentive Program: up to $39 million in point-of-sale vouchers to reduce the purchase cost of zero-emission drayage trucks, terminal tractors (yard tractors) and associated charging equipment.
• Green Drayage Accelerator: $5 million to fund as many as five high-capacity charging hubs located within 10 miles of the port's marine terminals, intended for operators that move cargo between terminals, warehouses and distribution centers.

Calstart will administer both programs and tie vehicle incentives to charging investments so infrastructure expands in step with vehicle adoption.

# Why the approach matters A primary barrier to fleet electrification is access to reliable, high-capacity charging. By combining direct vehicle incentives with funding for shared charging hubs, the initiative aims to reduce upfront costs for operators while increasing near-port charging capacity. Port officials said the programs are designed so charging capacity does not lag behind EV adoption.

# Who's involved and how it will operate Calstart (the administering nonprofit) will run outreach, issue vouchers at point of sale, and create tracking dashboards to monitor deployment progress, vehicle performance and charger utilization through 2028. Port Authority leaders framed the funding as supporting operators who keep the port running and extending benefits into the surrounding freight network.

Key public statements in the announcement:

• Alycia Gilde, Calstart executive vice president, said: "Deploying zero-emission trucks at scale requires pairing accessible vehicle incentives with reliable, high-capacity charging."
• Port Director Bethann Rooney said the effort makes zero-emission trucks and terminal tractors more affordable for operators, backed by necessary charging infrastructure.
• Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole emphasized the investment will support freight movement beyond port property.

# How this fits into broader funding

# Practical implications for operators Operators that rely on drayage and yard tractors should expect application and outreach materials when the programs open this fall. The point-of-sale voucher model aims to simplify acquisition for buyers, while the planned charging hubs target shared, near-port charging needs that are otherwise costly for individual operators to build.

# What to watch next

• Location and capacity details for the five planned charging hubs and whether bids or partners will be solicited.
• Dashboards published by Calstart showing deployment pace, charger utilization and vehicle performance through 2028.
• How these incentives interact with other local, state or federal programs for zero-emission freight.

# Bottom line The $45 million package targets both vehicles and chargers at the NY‑NJ port, pairing subsidies with infrastructure funding to lower barriers for drayage and terminal electrification while tracking results over the next few years.