Wireless Charging for Terminal Tractors

Rendering of a port with yard tractors and a gantry crane using wireless charging

Wireless Charging for Terminal Tractors and Yard Trucks

WAVE Charging powers electric terminal tractors and yard trucks wirelessly - the vehicle charges during the loading and staging stops it already makes, with no cables to corrode, snag, or slow a 24/7 yard. Each ground pad delivers 125kW to 500kW+ over an air gap, so Class-8 yard trucks keep moving without a plug-in routine or a driver ever touching a connector.

Why wireless charging fits a working yard

No cables in a heavy-traffic environment.

Sealed pads sit flush with the ground. There is nothing exposed for reach stackers, top handlers, or constant traffic to damage - and nothing to steal or vandalize.

Charge inside the duty cycle, not around it.

Terminal tractors top up during the stops they already make moving containers - power flows wirelessly, so vehicles stay in rotation instead of leaving for a charger.

Proven in the marine environment.

WAVE systems are built for salt air, standing water, and extreme temperatures — the conditions that corrode and short out plug-in equipment at a port.

92%+ efficient.

Grid-to-battery efficiency is comparable to the best wired chargers, so going cable-free costs nothing in energy or charging speed.

How wireless charging works for terminal tractors

A ground-mounted pad transfers power across an air gap of up to 8 inches to a receiver mounted under the truck. There is no cable to plug in - the driver parks over the pad and taps a button to start, then power transfers wirelessly and the truck drives away ready. See how WAVE wireless charging works →

Proven in the field

At the Port of Los Angeles, WAVE Charging powers a fleet of ten Class-8 yard trucks, charging them wirelessly during normal container operations. The result is electric terminal tractors that can run around the clock without a dedicated charging stop - proof that high-power wireless charging holds up to one of the most demanding duty cycles in heavy industry.

Frequently asked questions

How does wireless charging work for terminal tractors?

A ground-mounted pad generates an electromagnetic field that a receiver under the truck converts to power for the battery — across an air gap of up to 8 inches, with no cable and no driver action. The driver taps a button to start the charge while the truck is parked over a pad during loading or staging.

Can wireless charging pads survive a port environment?

Yes. WAVE pads are sealed and installed below ground level, built for salt air, flooding, and extreme temperatures. Because nothing is exposed, heavy yard equipment can't damage the charger and there are no connectors to corrode.

What power level do electric yard trucks need?

WAVE delivers 125kW to 500kW+, scalable to the vehicle and duty cycle. That range covers Class-8 terminal tractors and other heavy-duty yard equipment - true industrial power, not the low-power charging used for passenger cars.

Do drivers have to do anything to charge?

Almost nothing. The driver parks over the pad and presses a single button to start the charge. There are no cables to connect and no plug-in routine, so training is minimal and drivers stay focused on moving containers.

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