The port has received the first two units from an order of 34 new Autonomous Trucks (ATs). Thirty-four Westwell vehicles are already operating at the Trinity Terminal, making Felixstowe the first location in Europe to use such trucks in mixed traffic alongside conventional port vehicles.
Speaking at an event on 20 November, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and CEO of the Port of Felixstowe, said the latest trucks include an upgraded LiDAR system and other improvements that will later be retrofitted to the existing fleet. According to Cheng, the expansion marks “the next phase” of the port’s autonomous technology deployment.
Westwell founder and chairman Kenny Tan described the new delivery as part of the company’s ongoing collaboration with Hutchison Ports, noting that Felixstowe is among the global locations using its “Ainergy” automation and sensing technology.
The new trucks use advanced sensor fusion combining a 360-degree industrial-grade binocular camera with 128-line LiDAR. They communicate driving intentions through light signals and audio alerts, which, according to the port, helps reduce the risk of collisions when operating among human-driven vehicles.
All ATs at Felixstowe are fully electric. The port has sourced only renewable electricity since April 2023 and says the expansion of its autonomous fleet supports its target of achieving net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035.
Battery swaps take place at a recently commissioned automated station, allowing vehicles to exchange depleted units for fully charged ones in around five to six minutes. The port states this system maximises vehicle availability and minimises operational disruption.
