Airport Electrification


Major Benefits:
Significant GHG emissions drop—vital for airport decarbonization targets. Public health benefit for airport-adjacent communities in terms of air quality.

As aviation faces mounting pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, airports are becoming testbeds for electrification across ground operations, mobility, and energy infrastructure. While aircraft electrification remains nascent, airports themselves are rapidly adopting electric alternatives to reduce noise, air pollution, and emissions from ground support and vehicle fleets.

A. Electrification Layers

Grid Infrastructure
High-capacity substations, smart metering, and resilient connections to local grid or microgrid.

Ground Support Equipment (GSE) (20–25% of current airport emissions)
Replacement of diesel-powered baggage tractors, pushback tugs, and belt loaders with electric versions.

Airside Vehicles (30–40% of current airport emissions)
Semi-autonomous e-tugs and taxibots reduce need for jet engine taxiing. BEV conversion of fuel trucks, catering trucks, maintenance vehicles.

Onsite Microgrids
Solar PV (often rooftop or over parking), with battery storage for energy resilience.

Terminal Building Electrification (10-20% of airport emissions)
HVAC, lighting, escalators, and backup systems powered via renewable energy and battery storage.


B. Electrified Port Vehicles and Equipment

Baggage tractors
TUG Technologies, Charlatte, JBT LEKTRO.

Pushback tugs / towbarless
TLD TractEasy (autonomous), Goldhofer Phoenix E, Mototok ePushers.

Service/support vehicles
Ford E-Transit, Rivian Commercial Vans, electric pickups (F-150 Lightning).

Belt loaders
Charlatte, JBT Commander, TLD e-BL.

Passenger buses (airside)
BYD, Proterra, Solaris, VDL, Cobus e-Bus.


C. EVSE and Charging

eGSE charging stations: AC Level 2 or DC Fast (30–150 kW)
Often airside and weather-hardened.

EV shuttle & staff buses: DC Fast (150–350 kW)
Depot-style chargers for overnight use.

Rental + rideshare lots: 50–250 kW DCFC
Public-facing infrastructure.

Passenger EV parking: Level 2 + DCFC (varies)
Integrated with parking revenue model.

Aircraft taxi/towing systems: Large capacity (specialized)
High voltage infrastructure for towbarless EVs.





Software Solutions