Splash247: Mobile charging system for port cranes launched at TOC Europe

Published by Splash247

TMEIC Corporation Americas has unveiled a mobile charging system aimed at speeding up the electrification of diesel-powered port cranes without requiring major yard redesigns or costly grid upgrades.

The Houston-headquartered company introduced its new E-Tanker solution this week at TOC Europe in Hamburg, positioning the system as a flexible alternative to traditional crane electrification methods such as cable reels and bus bars.

The E-Tanker is designed to convert rubber-tyred gantry cranes from diesel to battery-electric operation while also charging other yard equipment. The system combines a mobile lithium-ion battery charging unit, high-energy battery blocks and a charging station linked through TMEIC’s fleet management software.

Housed inside a standard 40-foot container and moved around terminals by tractor units, each E-Tanker can serve multiple cranes, allowing operators to electrify equipment without taking assets offline for lengthy retrofit work.

“Diesel-powered RTG cranes can account for up to 75% of a terminal’s fuel consumption, making them a high-impact starting point for decarbonisation,” said Suraj Mishra, business development manager at TMEIC.

He argued that conventional electrification systems often clash with yard layouts and require extensive civil engineering work, while the E-Tanker allows terminals to shift to battery-electric operations “quickly and cost-effectively”.

The company says the integrated fleet management platform gives operators real-time visibility over battery charge levels, job assignments and charging schedules to improve utilisation and operational efficiency.