Big players eye autonomous vehicles to prowl the shipyards of the near future, betting on startups to solve for a challenge that is multiple.
Global trade in 2025 has been marked by creative rerouting, the so-called +1 strategy. But it also means a lot of uncertainty, and cargo waiting in shipyards.
In many emerging markets' yards, diesel-powered terminal tractors idling for long periods contribute significantly to emissions. Comparable operations in developed ports emit tens of metric tons of CO₂ per yard tractor annually, and efforts have long been underway to address this drag on the air, if not efficiency too.
Enter yard bots: autonomous or semi-autonomous electric vehicles that look like very large Roombas, prowling with containers and trailers in tow. Electrified yard AEVs can dramatically reduce operational emissions — life-cycle analyses from California suggest annual CO₂ reductions of more than 60% are possible in high-use scenarios, especially when idle or waiting. And it is a goal that a growing niche of AEV startups, and big VC backers, are now tackling.
State of Play: Venture capital firms such as NEA, 8VC, and Peter Thiel's Founders Fund have backed startups like Outrider, ISEE, and ANT Maschinen, which specialize in autonomous yard trucks with electrification capabilities. Corporate venture arms, including DB Schenker’s Schenker Ventures and Koch Disruptive Technologies, are investing strategically to integrate these technologies into their own supply chains. Funding levels are significant, with rounds ranging from $30 million to $75 million,
The most fascinating aspect here, though also challenge, lies in the intersectionality of technologies across logistics, artificial intelligence, and cleantech. AI-backed fleet management coordinates container movements, but also must schedule charging during renewable peaks, and balances energy usage from micro-grids, helping yards avoid costly electricity surges and downtime. It's a far more comprehensive automation.
The benefits can go beyond efficiency. Multinational companies increasingly demand greener supply chains, and electrified, AI-driven yard operations offer measurable reductions in Scope 3 emissions. Electrification can also reduce energy costs by 33–50% compared with diesel equivalents, depending on local pricing and utilization.
But electrification requires careful integration of power delivery systems, charging infrastructure, and energy management software. The sizable batteries introduce several challenges. High-capacity lithium-ion packs are heavy, expensive, and degrade over time, requiring careful lifecycle management. Charging infrastructure must be attuned to grid capacity. And that is especially true in emerging markets where electricity infrastructure is less resilient.
Pilots and collaborations are underway; for example, ANT Maschinen, a German startup, recently signed an agreement with Vahle Group, an electrification specialist, to explore electric and battery-driven solutions for their bots. Yards in India are likewise implementing pilots for swappable-battery strategies and testing AI-driven solutions for optimized charging.
OQ View: For decades, more efficient yard operations were envisioned with AEVs - though that vision has typically centered around optimized container management and movement done faster, with fewer errors, and perhaps incidentally, cleaner.
For those dedicated to (and increasingly invested in) the space, the new question is that last one: of literally powering that vision at scale.
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