Dublin Airport has introduced a new electric shuttle bus system supported by Ireland’s first pantograph charging infrastructure, as part of efforts to modernize passenger transport and reduce emissions across the airport campus.
Airport operator daa said the project includes 14 battery-electric shuttle buses operated by Aircoach and a high-power charging system that allows vehicles to recharge during scheduled stops along their routes.
Opportunity Charging Supports Frequent Services
The pantograph charging system enables buses to receive rapid top-up charging at the end of each shuttle route rather than relying exclusively on depot charging.
According to daa, the approach is designed for high-frequency services, reducing vehicle downtime while improving operational reliability.
The electric buses can each carry up to 120 passengers and serve approximately 2.5 million travelers annually on routes linking Dublin Airport’s terminals with its parking facilities.
In addition to the pantograph chargers, the project includes a dedicated seven-bay depot equipped for overnight and backup charging.
€17 Million Electrification Investment
The airport said the project represents a €17 million investment covering charging infrastructure and electrical network upgrades required to support the new system.
Part of the funding comes from a €4.7 million grant provided by the European Commission through the Connecting Europe Facility – Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (CEF AFIF).
Aircoach separately invested €11 million in the new electric shuttle fleet.
According to daa, replacing diesel-powered buses with battery-electric vehicles is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 1,470 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year.
Airport Continues Sustainability Program
Vincent Harrison, Chief Commercial and Development Officer at daa, said the charging technology is well suited to busy airport shuttle operations.
“Dublin Airport is delighted to be the first location in Ireland to harness the benefits of fast, pantograph charging for our electric shuttle buses.”
He said the opportunity charging system allows buses to operate with smaller batteries while improving service availability.
“This means cleaner, quieter and more reliable journeys for passengers.”
Andrea Carroll, Director of Sustainability at daa, said electrifying airport vehicles is a key component of the airport’s environmental strategy.
“Decarbonising our airport vehicles is a key part of daa’s ambitious sustainability strategy.”
According to the airport, 82% of its light commercial vehicle fleet has already transitioned to low-emission vehicles, while its heavy-duty fleet now operates using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or electric power.
The airport said the electrification project forms part of its wider Dublin Airport Campus Electrification (DACE) program, alongside broader initiatives supporting lower-emission transportation, including MetroLink and BusConnects.
