RIVERSIDE – Air pollution scientists at UC Riverside have high praise for the world’s only hybrid electric tugboat which operates at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

They found the ‘tug’ reduces emissions of soot by about 73 percent, oxides of nitrogen (which help cause smog) by 51 percent, and carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming, by 27 percent.

The ports are the largest contributors to air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin. Diesel pollution in particular can have devastating health impacts. (INT)

Story Date: December 2, 2010