The drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – spurred by regulations from the United Nations, European Union, and U.S. environmental legislation – has accelerated the global shift towards electric transportation over the past decade. Konecranes is firmly committed to making fully electric versions of its entire product portfolio available by 2026. Under its Ecolifting™ initiative, Konecranes helps customers take systematic steps towards reducing CO2 emissions per container move. Central to this effort is the broader use of (renewable) electricity over fossil fuels, both in Konecranes’ own operations and in powering the lifting equipment it produces.
Yet, the journey to electrification requires practical, phased progress. Transitioning to electric equipment often entails infrastructure upgrades and higher upfront investments, balanced by long-term gains in efficiency and significant reductions in emissions. Today, eco-efficient solutions already represent 60% of Konecranes’ sales, reinforcing the company’s support for the industry’s environmental targets and alignment with global climate commitments such as the Paris Agreement.
As electricity demand continues to rise, pressure on the power grid is increasing, sometimes outpacing infrastructure capacity. This challenge underscores the value of strategies such as peak shaving to manage and optimise electricity consumption during periods of high demand. Replacing fossil fuel-powered port equipment with electric alternatives offers a tangible path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions—particularly as rapid technological advances continue to enhance the viability and efficiency of electric solutions.
BloombergNEF forecasts that electric vehicles will account for 30% of global new car sales by 2030, underscoring the broader shift towards electrification across transport and industry. Anticipating the growing demands from port authorities and governments for more sustainable operations, Konecranes was an early adopter of battery-electric drive systems for large fleets operating in active terminal environments. This technology is now successfully in use at several major international container terminals.
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This Whitepaper originally appeared on zone.konecranes.com