Stuttgart Airport is set to electrify its entire handling fleet, thanks to a new project called finalise!, which has received €2.8 million funding from the German government. The project, which will cost a total of €5.8 million, aims to introduce more than 30 heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) to the airport, including a 52-tonne airfield tanker. The all-electric tanker is being developed by Skytanking, one of the largest aviation fuel industry service providers.
The project is a collaboration between Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH, Skytanking, and ISEA at RWTH Aachen University. Each partner will contribute its expertise to develop an innovative solution for the electrification of a large part of the airport’s handling fleet. The University will provide sustainable energy expertise and optimisation of charging protocols and data analysis, while the airport will provide the necessary infrastructure requirements.
See also: The Los Angeles International Airport aims to install 1,300 EV charging stations
Stuttgart Airport has been operating numerous electric vehicles on its apron since 2018, including 16 passenger buses and the first electric cargo tractor. The finalise! project will expand the airport’s electric vehicle fleet and include the installation of charging infrastructure at the airport.
The project is expected to be completed by 2026, with the first EVs entering service as early as 2024. The electrification of the handling fleet will help to reduce local emissions on the apron, making Stuttgart Airport a live demonstrator for other airports and refuelling service providers to learn from and support the standardisation process.
