Hutchison Ports' Port of Felixstowe has ordered 34 additional autonomous trucks from Shanghai Westwell Technology, doubling its existing fleet. The new units will expand operations at the Trinity Terminal, where the trucks have been in use since early 2025.

The first 34 autonomous trucks, deployed successfully early this year into operation at the port's Trinity Terminal alongside conventionally driven trucks, represented Europe's first-ever successful use of ATs in mixed traffic mode operation.

"We are proud to be leading the way in autonomous operations in ports. Doubling our fleet of ATs will deliver even greater efficiency and resilience to our operation. These new units will feature enhanced sensor technology, enabling even greater operational performance for our customers," said Clemence Cheng, executive director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO.

"The continued scaling up of this project has been made possible by the recent introduction of a private 5G network at the Port of Felixstowe. As well as improving operational consistency and efficiency, the increased use of battery-powered ATs will significantly support our ambition to achieve Net-Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035."

Kenny Tan, founder and chairman of Westwell, said, "We're very pleased to mark this next milestone with the second batch of 34 Westwell's ATs and the go-live of a battery swapping station. Having the port fully automated with ATs shows how far we've come in terms of empowering ports' smart operation."

"None of this would have been possible without the strong partnership between the Port of Felixstowe and Westwell, which has been key to making such a pioneering project successful," Tan added.

"We truly believe that with the further strengthening of the port's network infrastructure, Westwell's ATs and smart energy replenishment system will continue to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate the port’s transition toward its Net-Zero emissions objectives. Collaboratively, we are shaping the future of smart port operations," he further said.

The port operates one of the UK's largest private 5G networks, supporting communication and control systems for both autonomous trucks and conventional equipment.

A recently installed automated battery swap station enables the trucks to replace depleted batteries with charged units in five to six minutes, helping maintain fleet availability with minimal downtime.

The autonomous vehicles are fitted with advanced sensors, including 128-line LiDAR, 360-degree cameras, radar, and stereo imaging, designed to support safe and efficient operations.