Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has taken delivery of the first two units from an order for a further 34 Autonomous Trucks (ATs) from Shanghai Westwell Technology Co. Ltd (Westwell).
34 ATs, also supplied by Westwell, are already in operation at the port’s Trinity Terminal.
The ATs at the Port of Felixstowe were the first of their kind in Europe to be operated in a mixed-traffic environment.
Powered by advanced sensor fusion architecture, including a 360-degree industrial-grade binocular camera and 128-line LiDAR, each truck features interactive light signals and audiovisual alerts to communicate driving intentions clearly to human drivers, significantly reducing collision risks.
The ATs are fully electric and emissions-free as the port has used only electricity certified as being from renewable sources since April 2023.
The new batch of machines will reportedly help the port take a significant step towards its target of achieving net-zero for Scopes 1 & 2 emissions by 2035.
Batteries on the ATs are changed at a recently commissioned automated battery swap station. The facility allows ATs to exchange depleted power units for fully charged ones in just five to six minutes, ensuring maximum fleet availability and minimal disruption to operations.
Speaking at a function at the port to celebrate the event, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO, said: “We are delighted to receive the first trucks from our second order of ATs from Westwell. The new machines feature a step forward in LiDAR technology and mark the next phase of our journey using autonomous technology to support our experienced workforce.
“The improvements that have been incorporated in the new machines will now be retrofitted to our existing fleet to improve further the benefits they bring in terms of operational performance and efficiency. We look forward to continuing to work with Westwell to deliver on our shared vision of a smarter and greener future.”
READ: Felixstowe welcomes first FE4 call from Asia
Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell, said: “Celebrating our 10th anniversary, Westwell is proud to empower the 150-year legacy of the Port of Felixstowe with its proprietary Ainergy technology—driving intelligent transformation across the global logistics ecosystem.
“Hutchison Ports is a valued global partner for Westwell, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration in the years ahead, driving meaningful progress in sustainable port development.”
Last August, the Port of Felixstowe received a delivery of Automated Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes (AeRTGs).
For more information:
Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe – https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/
