Frankfurt Airport expands fleet of electric vehicles

Operator Fraport AG has committed to expanding Frankfurt Airport’s fleet of electric vehicles including a prototype container-transport vehicle for ground handling.

Frankfurt Airport will introduce a further 10 additional electric cars to its fleet alongside a prototype container-transport vehicle to be used in ground handling operations for carrying baggage to and from the aircraft.

Fraport’s acquisition of electric vehicles, known as the ‘E-fleet project’, was co-funded by the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, as part of the Rhine-Main Electromobility Model Region initiative. The project is part of a consortium involving Fraport, Lufthansa Group and other partners and is facilitated by the State of Hesse to promote electrification of vehicles used in aircraft handling.

New electric vehicles have already shown an 80 percent energy saving

The new container-transport vehicle from Mulag is equipped with twin 80 volt lead-acid batteries serving as the power source for the vehicle’s two electric motors. The prototype has a load capacity of seven tons and can reach a top speed of 25 kilometres per hour. According to Fraport, the recent addition has already shown an energy saving of 80 percent versus a comparable diesel-powered vehicle; as a result emissions have been reduced on the apron.

The ten additional battery powered electric cars from Mitsubishi provide a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour and a range of 150 km. Fraport’s ground handling unit uses these cars for service performance of aircraft handling activities at Frankfurt Airport.