STAX Engineering, a leader in maritime emissions capture and control technology, has finalized a significant five-year agreement with Toyota Motor North America, Inc. The deal marks STAX’s entry into the emissions control service for roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels in California, starting in 2025. This partnership will ensure compliance with the new California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards and represents a major milestone in environmental responsibility for both the maritime and automotive industries.
The Toyota Long Beach Vehicle Distribution Center, which handles the import of approximately 200,000 vehicles annually via ro-ro vessels, will benefit from STAX’s advanced emissions control solutions. STAX’s patented, flexible exhaust capture system is designed to seamlessly attach to all vessel classes without modification. The system is capable of removing 99% of emitted particulate matter (PM) and 95% of emitted oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Over the duration of the agreement, STAX estimates that their services will account for around 3,700 hours of operation and the control of more than 47 tons of emissions.
Missy Pearlman, General Manager of Toyota Logistics Services, highlighted the significance of this agreement “Implementing emissions capture and control technology for the ro-ros that are essential to our business represents a major environmental milestone for Toyota, the maritime industry, and the Long Beach port community. Additionally, STAX’s cutting-edge, low-maintenance emissions control solutions reduce Toyota’s environmental footprint without disrupting operations, making it a solution to help us reach our own carbon neutrality goals using this technology.”
STAX Engineering provides an alternative to traditional shore power with its land- and barge-based, mobile emissions capture and control technology. This approach allows shipping terminal and fleet operators to avoid costly and time-consuming retrofits. Since its launch in Q1 2024, STAX has rapidly expanded its operations, securing exclusive service agreements at major California ports, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hueneme, Benicia, Richmond, and Oakland. The company has also formed partnerships with leading international firms such as NYK Line, Hyundai GLOVIS, Equilon Enterprises LLC (Shell), and now Toyota.
Mike Walker, CEO of STAX, commented on the expansion “We set out to provide an emissions capture and control solution that was reliable, easily accessible, and cost-effective. As we begin to service Toyota, we’re confident that we can meet the needs of the full breadth of the maritime industry, furthering our impact on the local air quality, public health, and environment. Continuing to establish strong partnerships will help build momentum for and trust in our technology as we expand beyond the state of California.”
To date, STAX has treated at-berth vessels for a cumulative total of 5,087 hours and has controlled 39 tons of pollutants.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE), known for pioneering hybrid technology with the Prius and the fuel cell vehicle Mirai, is committed to shaping the future of mobility through its Toyota and Lexus brands. The company employs more than 63,000 people in North America, with over 49,000 in the U.S. Toyota has assembled nearly 47 million vehicles in North America over the past 65 years and will soon expand its operations with a new plant in North Carolina dedicated to manufacturing automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. In 2023, Toyota sold over 2.6 million vehicles in North America, with more than one quarter being electrified models.
About STAX Engineering
STAX Engineering is at the forefront of maritime emissions control with its patented, flexible exhaust capture system, which is designed to fit all ships without modification, even in congested ports. The system captures and filters exhaust to remove 99% of particulate matter (PM) and 95% of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), releasing purified gas. To date, STAX has treated 98 at-berth vessels, accounting for 5,087 hours and 39 tons of pollutants.
Source STAX Engineering