Kempower to Electrify DP World's Canadian Ports — 46 Chargers and 4.4 MW in First Phase

Finnish charging manufacturer Kempower has signed a framework agreement with port operator DP World to supply DC fast-charging infrastructure across its terminal operations in Canada, in one of the country's largest commitments to electrifying freight-handling equipment. As electrive reported Sept. 2, the first phase alone covers 46 charging satellites with a combined capacity of 4.4 MW — and the first site, in Vancouver, is already operational.

What the agreement covers

The framework spans DP World's existing terminals in Vancouver, Fraser Surrey, Nanaimo, Prince Rupert and Saint John, plus future projects such as the company's new container terminal at Contrecoeur near Montreal, which is expected to begin operations in 2030. The agreement does not lock in binding order volumes; DP World Canada will place individual orders according to its investment plans and operational requirements.

• Phase one: 46 Kempower charging satellites delivering a combined 4.4 MW at terminals in Vancouver, Fraser Surrey and Prince Rupert.
• Vancouver is live: the first charging installation is already operating at the Vancouver terminal.
• Purpose: electrifying DP World's service vehicles and container-handling equipment — not public charging.
• Technology: Kempower's distributed charging system shares available power dynamically between charging points, and its modular design is intended to keep uptime high in demanding port environments.

Why it matters for Canadian freight emissions

Ports are among the hardest places to decarbonize: straddle carriers, yard tractors and terminal service vehicles run around the clock under heavy loads. The deal builds on a proven precedent — in 2024, DP World began using Kempower chargers at its London Gateway Terminal in the United Kingdom, where eight electric Kalmar straddle carriers charge on eight 500 kW power units with liquid-cooled satellites. There, the 62-tonne vehicles reportedly charge from 0 to 100 per cent in about 45 minutes and operate for up to four hours, in what was described as DP World's first all-electric port terminal.

Canadian public money is already behind the build-out. In February, the federal government awarded DP World Canada C$4.375 million toward 111 chargers in Vancouver, part of a wider C$97-million package supporting more than 8,000 new EV charge points across the country.

The Canadian angle

"Electrifying our terminal operations is an important part of how DP World is building more efficient and resilient supply chains in Canada," Doug Smith, CEO of DP World Canada, said in the announcement. "Standardising this infrastructure across our Canadian terminals is a practical step toward reducing emissions while maintaining the performance and reliability our customers depend on."

Kempower is no stranger to Canada: in 2023 the company announced its first Canadian deployment with Quebec's Electric Circuit network, where its satellite system dynamically distributed 500 kW between charging points. The DP World agreement shifts that track record from public highway charging into industrial freight — a segment where every megawatt of installed capacity compounds across thousands of container moves a day.

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