October 23, 2025
Look around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or the piers along the Seattle waterfront, and you'll see the Port of Seattle in action. Beyond ships and planes, more than 1,500 vehicles and specialized pieces of equipment are hard at work every day to keep Port operations moving, from maintenance vans keeping the lights on to heavy-duty forklifts shifting cargo.
These vehicles are critical, but they also account for about 15 % of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the Port’s direct control. To address this, the Port set an ambitious, long-term vision: to be North America's greenest and most energy-efficient port, with a goal of achieving a net-zero fleet by 2040.
The Port published the Sustainable Fleet Plan in 2021 to change the way our people move, from rightsizing the fleet to moving to new electric vehicles. The effort is not only cutting emissions but also reducing operating and maintenance costs along the way — and it takes a lot of planning and preparation to get there.
Optimizing and electrifying the fleet
The Port’s primary strategy is twofold: rightsizing and electrification. The goal is simple: transition all gasoline-powered sedans and SUVs to electric vehicles (EVs) and make the entire fleet as lean and efficient as possible. This means retiring unused vehicles and replacing larger, gas-guzzling models with smaller, more efficient, or electric options that still meet the Port’s demanding operational needs. These focused efforts are projected to cut over 2,000 metric tons of GHG emissions by 2030.
Electrification transition
This transition isn’t just about buying new vehicles; it requires careful planning for commercial vehicle availability, securing necessary funding and grants, and, most critically, investing in the charging infrastructure needed to keep the fleet operational.
This strategy is rapidly turning into reality across light-duty and heavy-duty fleets.
- 12% of the maritime light-duty fleet and 8% of the aviation light-duty fleet is now electric
- 53 electric vehicles are currently in service across the Port
- A new electric workboat launched at Fishermen's Terminal in 2023
- The Port secured an $800K grant for two EV forklifts at Terminal 91
- A proposal for 29 electric rental car buses at SEA Airport is also under review for a 2030 transition
Building the backbone: charging infrastructure
To support this growing EV fleet, the Port has initiated comprehensive assessments to guide the optimal location, type, and timing of charging station installation across all Port properties. Major infrastructure needs studies were completed in 2023 and 2024 for the maritime and airport divisions, respectively.
Recently completed charging projects:
SEA Airport
- Nine Level 2 chargers for airfield lighting, field crew, and auto shop teams
- 28 Level 2 charging ports in the parking garage for police, security, and landside operations (2024–2025)
Near-term charging installation projects:
Major installations are planned, including:
Maritime
- 18 Level 2 dual-port chargers at the Marine Maintenance South facility
- Level 3 high-speed charging ports at Marine Maintenance North and the Maritime Industrial Center
- Level 2 installations at Shilshole Bay Marina and Pier 66
SEA Airport
- Five Level 2 chargers at the Port of Seattle Fire Department (Nov. 2025)
- Seven Level 3 high-speed charging ports at the D gates (2026)
- 40 Level 3 charging ports for the rental car bus fleet (2030–2031)
Rightsizing milestones
The simple act of ensuring the right vehicle for the right job has already delivered major emission reductions:
- Engineering division: Cut fleet nearly in half, from 86 to 42 vehicles, by removing underused vehicles and transitioning to a shared-use model (2023)
- Maritime division: Replaced 18 F-150s with more efficient E-Transits or Ford Lightnings (2025)
- Airport teams: The Airfield Lighting group switched from one-ton pickups to Ford Lightning EVs (2025), and the Aviation Paint Shop expects to operate a primarily electric by the end of 2025
- Port of Seattle Police Department: The Bomb Unit transitioned from one-ton pickups to half-ton SUVs; and the Administrative division replaced large SUVs and pickups with smaller, more efficient hybrid SUVs and sedans
Reducing emissions today with renewable fuels
While the Port works on full electrification of its fleet, it is using drop-in renewable fuels to reduce GHG emissions right now.
Renewable diesel and renewable natural gas (RNG) are critical near-term solutions for diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles that aren't yet scheduled for replacement or don't have suitable electric models available. The Port started purchasing renewable diesel in 2018 and RNG in 2020. In 2023 alone, the fleet used over 40,000 gallons of renewable diesel and 375,000 RNG diesel gallon equivalent.
Leveraging data to improve efficiency
Data is key to a smarter, more efficient fleet. The Port uses fleet technology, like telematics technology, not just to inform right-sizing efforts, but to make existing vehicles more efficient. This technology helps limit engine idling and provides valuable data on operations, including speed and fueling events.
In 2024, the Port procured a new telematics system that will be installed on 80% of fleet assets by the end of 2026.
The journey to a net-zero fleet is complex, but the Port’s progress in just a few years proves that its commitment to being the greenest port is more than just a goal — it's a reality being built every day.
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