In August, the final charging station for the electrified Automatic Guided Vehicles was approved at the world’s first climate-neutral handling facility, HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder and put into regular operation.

This means that 18 electric charging stations are now available for charging the automatically driven AGVs that transport containers between the quayside and the container block storage area at CTA. The fast-charging stations, each housed in a 20-foot container, are distributed along the AGV area in groups at both ends and in the centre of the area.

The charging stations supply the AGVs with electricity generated by renewable energies. In about 1.5 hours the AGVs are fully charged, one battery charge is sufficient for one day of operation. Depending on the charging status, the AGVs drive to the charging stations automatically and the charging process is also fully automated.

The formerly diesel-powered AGV fleet will be converted completely to lithium-ion battery operation by 2023. More than 85% of the AGVs are already battery-powered. Eleven more battery vehicles will join the fleet at CTA next year.

The battery AGVs and the electric charging stations at Container Terminal Altenwerder are a further step in the implementation of HHLA’s “Balanced Logistics” sustainability strategy, which aims to halve CO₂emissions by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality throughout the Group by 2040.