Electric Trucks and the Power Grid

New fleets of electric cargo trucks being assembled at a Harbor City plant are expected to help drop emission levels in area communities, but are they driving up pollution levels in communities where electric power is generated?
While the rigs, which will be used to haul cargo around marine terminals and to area railyards, emit zero pollutants on site, charging their batteries inevitably produces measurable levels of pollutants by increasing loads at area power plants.
Port authorities are studying the pollution effect of electrification to determine how many emissions are produced "down-line" when ships, trucks, cranes and other equipment are powered by the electrical grid.
Results are expected sometime this year.
Meanwhile, the port posted this video about the new electric trucks, built by Balqon Corporation. The company has hired 50 engineers, electricians and line-workers from the area to build drayage trucks and assemble high-tech motor "controllers" for outside electric fleets.
Their initial orders call for 25 drayage trucks and 25 controllers, which will be purchased by a bus operator in California.