ELECTRIC VEHICLES | ENVIRONMENT

Green benefi ts power the rise in electric

As Airside International reports, the case for electric vehicles seems not to be swaying all Governments and stakeholders despite their environmental pedigree.

nvironmental concerns and health and safety requirements have stimulated a growth in the use of electric vehicles at air- ports, and particularly airside. Since they first came on the scene around 15 years ago, electric vehicles have been mainly used for maintenance, moving people and equipment and baggage and cargo handling.

E

“Electric vehicles have to be available airside because of security and other restrictions,” says Oliver Kesy, head of marketing at Mulag. “Many air- ports don’t allow diesel or petrol-powered vehicles inside buildings, so elec- tric vehicles are required to move baggage and cargo. We even have electric conveyor belt vehicles which can push the baggage into the aircraft.” Once airports and airlines realised the advantages of using electric vehicles in these traditional applications, they began to look at new ar- eas in which electric units may be beneficial. Catering companies use electric to carry food to the aircraft; electric vehicles help to push back aircraft; firefighters and snow and ice clearing vehicles have also been produced in electric versions.

Now manufacturers are widening the field of usage still further. Dutch manufacturer Spijkstaal Elektro, a dedicated supplier of electric vehicles, produces a small bus for moving people which it is planning to improve for delivering crew to and from aircraft. A Schiphol company which cleans aircraft seats is beginning to use electric vehicles to take cleaners and their equipment to the aircraft. This fits in with KLM’s target of a completely ‘clean’ way of cleaning, in which only chemical-free detergents are used.

“But electric units need to be competitive in terms of mileage costs,” warns Eric Lampier, sales director at Spijkstaal Elektro. “If they are not economic, no one will buy them.” The company’s new 7.5 tonne Ecotruck 7500 garbage truck, launched

last year, must be cost-effective, because Spijkstaal Elektro is now mak- ing one a month. Schiphol was the first customer, using the Ecotruck to collect airside garbage bins. The Ecotruck, which can also be supplied with a fixed cargo-box and tail lift, is equipped with air suspension, a pneumatic/hydraulic braking system with ABS and modern lithium ion batteries. It can be used for up to 100 km before needing recharging and has a maximum speed of around 40 km/h.

Schiphol and KLM are now jointly looking at other applications for electric vehicles, e.g. technical services, water trucks and mobile offices, as part of their goal to reduce carbon emissions. As Lampier emphasises, “everything which is used for up to 20,000 km per year on airside can be electrified successfully.”

Spijkstaal Elektro, which manufactures electric vehicles up to 30 tonnes in size, has now signed a contract to supply UK-based Smith Elec- tric vehicles in the Benelux. “Smiths vehicles are based on commercial truck technology,” Lampier explains. “If demand for their units increases

WWW.EVAINT.COM MARCH 2012 | AIRSIDE INTERNATIONAL 9

“Electric units need to be competitive in terms of mileage costs. If they are not economic, no one will buy them”

suffi ciently, we may start assembling left-hand drive vehicles for Europe.” Smiths’ improved payload performance on the Edison model (an all- electric version of the Ford transit van) may help stimulate that demand. Edison vehicles can now travel up to 80 miles on a single charge in urban applications, with more possible at airports. A fast-charge version can be ready in less than four hours and the unit can be plugged in for top-up storage at any time.

Mulag updated its 3E Comet tractor last year to increase battery ca- pacity and improve the way in which it is charged, allowing it to be con- nected every 8 - 10 hours at a faster rate. The modular design enables it to be configured for use in different situations. An open driver stand or closed cab can be provided and better visibility enables drivers to see the rear tow hitch.

Italian supplier Alke launched a van version of its XT model last year.

The XT, which initially came out at the end of 2010, is bigger and more powerful than the company’s ATX, but each be used for the same appli- cations. But the ATX280E is, says the company, the most suitable of its