Cavotec, EVIAS sign exclusive deal for automated charging of electric port vehicles

Cavotec and EVIAS have signed an exclusive distribution agreement to introduce EVIAS’ automatic ground-based charging technology to ports worldwide. The partnership will target the electrification of horizontal transport equipment, including terminal tractors, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and other container-handling vehicles used within port terminals.

Under the agreement, Cavotec will serve as EVIAS’ exclusive distributor and installer for the port sector globally. The technology will be marketed under the co-branded name “Cavotec powered by EVIAS”.

Charging technology for port vehicles

EVIAS has developed a conductive charging system designed for intensive fleet operations. The system uses a vehicle-mounted robotic arm that autonomously locates and connects with a charging rail embedded in the road.

This allows electric vehicles to charge while driving over the charging rail or while waiting for containers to be loaded. By reducing the need for vehicles to leave operations for conventional charging, the system is intended to minimise charging-related downtime and improve equipment utilisation.

Only the section of the charging rail directly beneath a vehicle is electrified, according to the companies. The modular system is also designed to integrate with existing port infrastructure.

Growing demand for electric container-handling equipment

The agreement comes as container terminals increasingly adopt electric equipment as part of efforts to improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions from intra-terminal transport.

The Zero Emission Port Alliance estimates that between 33,000 and 47,000 new battery-electric container-handling vehicles will be ordered globally between 2025 and 2035.

Dynamic charging can also reduce the space required for charging and parking infrastructure. With vehicles able to charge during operating cycles or waiting periods, terminals may require fewer vehicles to be parked specifically for charging at any given time.

Expanding Cavotec’s port electrification portfolio

The partnership will add horizontal transport electrification to Cavotec’s existing portfolio of solutions for ports, which includes electrification systems for cranes and vessels.

The EVIAS technology will also complement Cavotec’s automation products, including MoorMaster automated vacuum mooring and automated plug-in systems for rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.

“EVIAS’ fully automatic charging technology fits naturally into the demanding operational environments of our port customers and complements our existing electrification and automation portfolio. This partnership enables us to expand our offering into horizontal transport and provide customers with an increasingly integrated approach to port electrification, from vessel and crane applications through to terminal operations. Before entering this partnership, we benchmarked various automatic charging solutions available on the market, and EVIAS stood out clearly, both in terms of its value proposition and technical design,” says David Pagels, CEO of Cavotec.

EVIAS targets wider transport applications

For EVIAS, the agreement provides a route to expand deployment of its dynamic charging technology across ports while retaining its focus on other transport markets.

“Partnering with Cavotec is more than a distribution agreement – it is a strong validation of the maturity and reliability of our technology. Cavotec’s global presence and more than 50 years of experience give us a unique opportunity to accelerate the global adoption of dynamic charging and to establish it as the new standard for port electrification, far faster than we could have achieved on our own. At the same time, we remain fully focused on developing our other strategic markets, including urban transit, road freight, autonomous vehicles, and airports,” says Olivier Besson, co-founder and CEO of EVIAS.