National Retail Systems, Inc. (NRS), a third-party logistics provider, launched a zero emissions electric drayage operation exclusively for IKEA Distribution Services North America in Los Angeles.

The electric drayage tractors run 100 percent on electricity, eliminating the use of fuel. The operating range of the tractors is up to 100 miles.

As a first approach, NRS will pull IKEA containers from the port of Los Angeles to the NRS yard, allowing a zero emission transport of containers off port property. Moving forward, the trucks have the capacity to handle round trips from the NRS yard to any of the IKEA stores in the Los Angeles market. The program has the potent to eliminate emissions in the transport of IKEA containers from the port to local stores.

“We are excited to work with IKEA in rolling out zero emissions electric drayage trucks in Los Angeles, and hope that the operation is a success,” said Raymond Wisniewski, COO and President of National Retail Systems, Inc. “I look forward to expanding our green technology, and reducing our carbon footprint.”

NRS has made significant infrastructure updates to accommodate the electric truck by building energy charging stations. The Navistar International Class 8 tractor, converted to use a battery-electric propulsion system by TransPower, a Southern California company, will add to NRS’s current environmental initiatives to run greener.