Ørsted Announces Innovative Electric Truck Initiative to Improve Air Quality in communities surrounding the Port of Newark

Atlantic City, NJ – Today, Ørsted announced it will partner with Zeem Solutions, to enable the rollout of 50 electric drayage trucks, associated vehicle infrastructure and mobility training programs for area residents at the Port of Newark. The $11 million partnership is a part of Ørsted’s Ocean Wind 2 bid that is being considered by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Newark and Elizabeth are situated in and along major thoroughfares and are adjacent to one of the largest and most active ports on the east coast. This proximity results in thousands of daily truck trips traversing the Port of Newark. Drayage trucks are the cause of 25% of all marine terminal emissions. These emissions are some of the most harmful–they include the small bits of particulate matter that lodge inside our lungs. The effects of these emissions manifest themselves within the local communities in the form of higher levels of respiratory and cardiac diseases and other complications brought on by daily exposure to high levels of particulate matter and other emissions.

For more than 40 years, residents and community leaders in Newark have raised concerns about poor air quality and growing health problems, particularly those impacting children.

Ørsted has heard their concerns and partnered with Zeem to improve the air quality in and around the Port of Newark by connecting clean energy with clean trucks.

The partnership, outlined in Ørsted’s 1,200 MW Ocean Wind 2 bid that was submitted in December, will build a state-of-the-art truck depot including charging infrastructure and battery storage that will house, charge and service 200 trucks. Of those 200 trucks, 50 will be electric drayage trucks made possible by Ørsted’s investment.

“Should Ocean Wind 2 be selected by the BPU, we will be in a position to move swiftly to implement our proposed plan,” said David Hardy, CEO of Offshore North America, Ørsted. “Our initiative complements Governor Murphy’s recent announcement to deliver $100 million in clean mobility projects for the state. Ørsted shares the State’s vision of providing environmental justice for underprivileged New Jersey communities.”

“Our partnership with Ørsted will accelerate Zeem’s opening of our first east coast Commercial EV depot. The high demand for NJ fleets wanting to electrify provides the opportunity to leverage renewable resources for vehicle charging, mitigate harmful emissions and positively impact air quality around the Newark Port,” said Paul Gioupis, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeem Solutions. “Additionally, Zeem will be providing skilled workforce training and employment opportunities directly in the surrounding disadvantaged community. The Ørsted/Zeem partnership will facilitate a sustainable operations model with environmental and community benefits.”

"Breath is life - and these electric trucks are a vital first step towards making sure that absolutely everyone who lives near Ports Newark and Elizabeth has clean, healthy air to breathe," said Rev. Ronald Tuff, GreenFaith NJ Organizer.

"Electrification of our truck sector is one of the most important strategies to reduce air pollution in our cities, protect public health and reduce climate pollutants. The Zeem electrification project in Newark is a glimpse into an electric future for both the port sector and trucks around the state. This investment would create momentum into an electrified future and cleaner air," said Doug O'Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

The depot and the electric trucks will have the following unique features:

• They will be powered by the Ocean Wind 1 project
• The depot will offer worker training and serve as a certification center placing New Jersey in a clean energy leadership role
• The depot will have battery storage which will provide an added measure of resiliency to the facility
• The depot provides a model for other New Jersey port communities to replicate

About Ørsted Offshore North America

The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted ranks as the world’s most sustainable energy company in Corporate Knights’ 2021 Global 100 index of the most sustainable corporations and is recognized on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action.

In the United States, Ørsted operates the Block Island Wind Farm, America’s first offshore wind farm, and constructed the two-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project – the first turbines to be installed in federal waters.  Ørsted has secured over 2,900 megawatts of additional capacity through five projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Ørsted Offshore’s North American business is jointly headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island and employs more than 150 people. To learn more visit us.Ørsted.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@ØrstedUS).

About Zeem Solutions

Zeem is a e-Fleet-as-a-Service (eFaaS) provider for small, medium and large fleet operators focused exclusively on commercial electric vehicles (CEV).  We assist fleet operators with the formulation and integration of a tailored, comprehensive EV strategy that bundles the vehicle, maintenance, charging and overnight parking for one monthly cost. 

At Zeem, our mission is to provide reliable CEV solutions for fleet operators and bring compelling value through innovative thinking, collaboration and financing while maintaining safety and the highest levels of environmental responsibility and sustainability. 

For further information please contact:

Media Relations

Gabe Martinez 
Ørsted Offshore North America 
Gamar@orsted.com
978-447-2301