Future-Proofing Airport GSE Equipment With Electrification

The future of ground support equipment (GSE) will be powered by electricity. Early adopters like Delta Airlines have already made the move toward electric airport GSE equipment. Delta’s GSE fleet at Salt Lake City International Airport is already almost entirely electric — and they plan to electrify all GSE at Delta hub airports by 2035.

The industry as a whole is moving in this direction: Electric GSE sales are set to grow faster than GSE sales as a whole, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 percent through 2030. Clearly, electrification is the key to future-proofing all airport GSE equipment. Here’s a quick look at the benefits of electric GSE, the best GSE to electrify first, and some tips to help you prepare for a battery-powered future.

Why Electric Airport GSE Equipment Is Important

The main driver of GSE electrification is environmental sustainability. Electricity is a cleaner source of power than gas. Electric GSE doesn’t produce greenhouse gas emissions, which helps airlines and airports work toward sustainability goals made difficult by the high emissions associated with burning jet fuel.

Sustainability isn’t the only benefit of electric GSE, however: 

• Electric airport GSE equipment runs quieter than traditional engines, limiting noise pollution on the tarmac and in the terminal.
• Electric motors create high torque at low RPMs, so they’re more efficient when starting and stopping a lot — which is common for GSE. 
• Electric GSE typically has lower maintenance requirements than traditional airport vehicles. Electricity is also cheaper than fuel. As a result, electric GSE costs less to operate than a gas-powered alternative (although the upfront cost may be higher). 

The benefits of electric GSE are compelling, but where should you start the move toward electrification?  

Choosing Airport GSE to Electrify First

Start with the equipment that will provide the greatest return on your investment. This will tend to be GSE that: 

• Operates frequently or continuously, so that electrification reduces a lot of emissions.
• Runs on a predictable schedule, so it’s easy to schedule charges.
• Has a mature market, so there’s reliable technology to choose from. 

With all that in mind, here are a few pieces of airport GSE equipment to electrify first.

1. Baggage Tugs

Baggage tractors pull baggage trailers to and from aircraft, and they’re needed for just about every flight. They follow standard routes and run throughout the shift. There are also plenty of proven electric baggage tugs on the market. Baggage tugs run at low speeds, have high torque needs, and start and stop frequently; this makes them an ideal candidate for an electric motor.

2. Pushback Tractors

Aircraft towing tractors need a lot of power from a dead start, which electric motors are great at producing. They also have a lot of downtime, which gives them plenty of time for charging. While they don’t run as often as a baggage tug, they provide a high-value service, which makes up for the less frequent usage in your ROI calculation.  

3. Belt Loaders

Like baggage tugs, belt loaders tend to operate on consistent schedules within close range of potential charging areas. They operate near aircraft, where passengers may be present, which makes the low noise of an electric motor valuable, as it contributes to a better customer experience. There are also many high-quality electric belt loaders available. 

Purchasing electric GSE is only one part of the electrification process. Before you put your electric GSE into action, it’s wise to have a plan for the transition — and that starts with a charging strategy. Here are a few tips about preparing to charge an electric GSE fleet.

Planning Charging Infrastructure for Electric GSE

Gas-powered GSE is relatively simple to power: You just fill up the tank. Electric GSE requires a little bit more planning. It’s important to optimize your charger locations and design charging stations for efficient operation. Follow these suggestions to simplify charging for electric GSE: 

• Locate charging stations as close to equipment as possible. That could be in a fleet depot, near fleet operational areas, or — ideally — both. 
• Install multiple charging technologies to match time constraints. Use a combination of Level 2 and DC fast-charge equipment to support between-shift and opportunity charging. 
• Build charging stations that can charge multiple vehicles at once, all while occupying as compact of a footprint as possible. Space is at a premium in fleet depots and high-traffic areas. Look for charger stands that don’t take up too much space, and can support multiple chargers at once.  
• Install cable management systems in all charging stations. Protect charging cables between uses with charger cable retractors. These solutions make it easy to connect cables to charging ports without a hassle, too. 

EV Charger Pedestals from Solus Group support up to two chargers in an extremely compact footprint. They’re made of heavy duty, powder-coated steel, so they’re ideal for indoor and outdoor areas of the airport. 

They’re also compatible with integrated EV Charger Cable Retractors, which provide comprehensive cable management for lengthy charging cables. Together, these products make an ideal charging station for electric airport GSE equipment. 

Contact Solus Group at 314-696-0200 to learn more about how EV Charger Handling Equipment can support airport electrification efforts.