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The Port of Baltimore
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May/June 201 2
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Green
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BY NANCY MENEFEE JACKSON
A
t the Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Logistics (WWL) Mid-Atlantic
Terminal, higher gas prices won’t
matter for some of its vehicles.
WWL has invested in solar panels
to power two all-electric vehicles (EVs).
The dual-panel units use a GPS-enabled
mechanism to follow the sun and produce
25 percent to 45 percent more electricity
per day than conventional fixed solar panels.
Advanced Technology & Research
Corp., an engineering and manufacturing
firm based in Columbia, Md., installed the
three “tracking” solar units.
concept works with these initial trackers,
and then our goal would be to adopt the
concept at other facilities.”
Derby added, “As an environmental
forerunner in the maritime industry, WWL
is pleased to undertake this initiative
as part of our energy-efficiency and
emissions-reduction programs.”
Dr. Jackson Yang, ATR’s Founder and
CEO, noted, “We are very pleased that
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has chosen
to work with ATR and utilize our tracking
solar arrays as part of its renewable
energy initiatives. We are confident that
the company will benefit from these small,
high-performance solar devices.”
The GEMs join two electric “Gator"
vehicles already in use.
“We have a vision to be emissions
free by 2020,” said Rod Pickens, WWL’s
Terminal Manager.
Another step in that direction is the new
five-ton-capacity, all-electric Linde forklift
that arrived recently. An electric charger
installed at the terminal charges it between
shifts, but other than that it performs just
like its diesel-powered brethren.
And for those pieces of equipment
Once fully charged, the EV — a
Global Electric Motorcar (GEM) used
to transport employees and materials
around the terminal — can run three
to four days, or about 35 miles, before
recharging is necessary, said Michael
Derby, WWL’s General Manager for North
Atlantic Operations - Ocean, Terminal
and Environmental Affairs. “We hope the
energy produced by the solar trackers
can completely offset the power needed
to operate the EVs,” he said. “If this
works out, WWL will consider deploying
more trackers. We hope to prove that the
COURTESY OF WWL
WWL
Charging Forward
with
Electric Vehicles
“As an environmental forerunner
in the maritime industry, WWL is
pleased to undertake this initiative
as part of our energy-efficiency and
emissions-reduction programs.”
~ Michael Derby