Airport ground support equipment (GSE) presents a perfect use case for EVs. The specialty vehicles that service aircraft on the ground travel short distances, and can conveniently charge right on the airport apron.

Goldhofer, a German-headquartered global provider of specialty vehicles, unveiled an electric version of its AST-2 towbarless aircraft tow tractor (aka Phoenix E) in 2019. Now EFM, which provides ground support at Munich Airport, has ordered 14 of Goldhofer’s Phoenix E battery-electric tow tractors.

This EV is a beast—it can wrestle aircraft of up to 352 tons into position at towing speeds of up to 32 km/h. The Phoenix E boasts the same tractive power, maneuverability and reliability as the legacy diesel version, and offers lower operating costs and longer maintenance cycles.

The Phoenix E features a 220 kW direct-drive motor and a modular 700 V lithium-ion battery system. Each module has a capacity of 40 kWh, and a vehicle can be equipped with up to six modules for a total capacity of 240 kWh. The Phoenix E supports CCS Type 1, CCS Type 2 and GB/T charging at rates of up to 22 kW AC or up to 150 kW DC.

EFM’s 14 Phoenix E tractors are expected to be delivered and in operation by 2028.

“This latest investment in Goldhofer equipment is a further milestone for future-proof ground handling by EFM at Munich Airport,” says EFM Managing Director Jörg Abel. “As a pioneer in the field of zero-emission ground support, our goal is to make ground support fit for a sustainable future.”

Sources: Goldhofer, Electrek