Orange EV Hits 2,000-Unit Milestone as Electric Terminal Trucks Gain Ground in Port and Logistics Yards

Kansas City-based Orange EV has reached a landmark milestone in the electrification of terminal operations, deploying its 2,000th purpose-built electric terminal truck to Coke Canada Bottling — a development the company says signals a broader industry shift away from diesel-powered yard equipment. According to a PR Newswire release dated 23 June 2026, the deployment coincided with Orange EV receiving a National Supplier Partner Award, recognising the manufacturer's role in supporting sustainable logistics operations across North America. While the recipient of this particular unit is a beverage bottling operation, the milestone carries direct relevance for the maritime sector. Terminal trucks — also known as yard trucks or hostlers — are workhorses of container port operations, moving trailers between berths, storage areas, and gate facilities around the clock. The push to electrify this equipment class is accelerating at marine terminals as port authorities and terminal operators face tightening emissions regulations, particularly in jurisdictions such as California, where the Air Resources Board has mandated zero-emission cargo handling equipment. Orange EV states that the adoption of its electric terminal trucks has been driven not solely by environmental mandates, but by operational factors including improved uptime, greater reliability compared to diesel counterparts, and a more favourable total cost of ownership over the vehicle lifecycle. These arguments are increasingly resonating with terminal operators who have historically been cautious about transitioning mission-critical yard equipment. The 2,000-unit threshold is a notable commercial benchmark for a manufacturer operating in a segment that, until recently, was dominated almost entirely by internal combustion engine vehicles. Industry observers note that reaching this scale provides Orange EV with valuable operational data across diverse duty cycles and climates — intelligence that will be critical as the company competes for larger port and intermodal terminal contracts. For maritime terminal operators evaluating fleet electrification strategies, the milestone offers a degree of confidence in the technology's maturity. Concerns around range, charging infrastructure, and vehicle durability in demanding 24/7 port environments have been among the primary barriers to adoption. A fleet of 2,000 deployed units across varied operational settings provides a meaningful proof-of-concept at commercial scale. The broader electrification of port equipment — encompassing not only terminal trucks but also rubber-tyred gantry cranes, reach stackers, and forklifts — remains a central pillar of decarbonisation strategies at major ports worldwide as the industry works toward net-zero targets aligned with IMO and national regulatory frameworks.