Moving goods with fewer emissions takes more than changing the fuel. Across Asia and the Pacific, batteries are powering trucks, barges and refrigerated trailers, while hydrogen engines, ammonia propulsion and synthetic aviation fuels are being developed for other transport needs.
This edition follows eight examples of that shift, including robots that clean ship hulls to reduce drag. Together, they show how cleaner freight depends on matching technology to the job: the route, the cargo, the energy supply and the way equipment is operated. The cases range from operating services to trials and planned production, with emissions benefits still dependent on fuel sourcing and real-world performance.
Wickham Freight Lines has bought a solar-assisted battery-electric refrigeration unit after a 1,671 km freight trial. Roof-mounted solar and battery storage power the trailer's cooling equipment, replacing its diesel refrigeration engine rather than the truck's propulsion system. The purchase points to a way of cutting diesel use in cold-chain logistics without first replacing the towing vehicle.
Dongde Energy has begun implementing a project that combines renewable electricity, green hydrogen and captured industrial carbon dioxide to produce synthetic aviation fuel. The planned facility targets 100,000 tonnes of fuel annually, linking power generation with electrolysis, carbon capture and fuel synthesis. These figures describe intended capacity, not operating output; lifecycle emissions benefits will depend on how the fuel is produced.
CATL has introduced a heavy-truck system pairing a swappable main battery with a separate 77 kWh reserve battery. The design aims to let drivers use more of the main pack before visiting a swap station, while retaining backup power. Agreements covering 13,000 vehicles were announced at the launch, but are not completed deployments; claimed utilisation and cost improvements remain manufacturer estimates.
Tata Motors and Amazon have flagged off an initial electric-truck fleet under a partnership targeting 3,000 vehicles across Amazon's Indian transport network over three years. Carrier partners will own and operate the trucks, bringing electrification into everyday e-commerce logistics. The target signals a planned expansion, not 3,000 trucks already on the road.
The coastal tanker Kikou Maru completed a two-hour demonstration voyage in Osaka Bay using hydrogen as its main propulsion fuel in a pilot-ignition engine. The test offers practical experience with an alternative marine fuel, but is not regular commercial hydrogen service. Wider use will depend on fuel availability, bunkering, safety and the emissions associated with producing the hydrogen.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has named Terra Clove, a 93,000-cubic-metre carrier equipped with ammonia dual-fuel propulsion, a shaft generator and real-time ammonia leak detection. The ship illustrates how alternative-fuel engines must be paired with onboard safety and emissions-management systems. Sea trials and delivery were still forthcoming in the reporting; climate benefits depend on ammonia production and control of combustion emissions.
Cargill and Neptune Robotics have begun an 18-month trial of AI-enabled hull-cleaning and inspection robots on vessels calling at Singapore. Removing attached marine growth can reduce drag and the fuel needed to move cargo. The trial will compare vessel performance before and after cleaning, testing an efficiency route to lower-emission shipping; fuel savings have not yet been published.
CMA CGM, Nike and Gemadept have launched an electric container barge service linking inland cargo movements with Gemalink terminal. Battery swaps and renewable charging support the vessel's operation, while Nike's long-term cargo commitment helps underpin the service. The deployment brings electric propulsion into inland freight; projected emissions savings should be distinguished from measured lifecycle performance.
Climate Tech Pulse is a biweekly compilation of web-based news and information on climate technologies across Asia and the Pacific.
Technology offer
Interested in this technology?
Request further information or explore potential cooperation with the technology provider.
Technology request
Can you help meet this technology need?
Share a relevant technology, expertise or partnership opportunity with APCTT.