DHL Express is ramping up its use of electric ground-handling vehicles at Brussels Airport as part of efforts to reduce its emissions output.
The investment means that one in three tractors and loaders used by DHL Express at the Belgian hub are now fully electric.
In total, DHL has put 11 electric tractors, which can tow up to four cargo containers, and 13 electric container lifts, belly loaders and pushbacks into operation at Brussels Airport.
The company’s crew buses and tarmac cars are already powered by electricity.
Over time, DHL Express aims to develop a fully electric ground fleet at the airport.
DHL Aviation chief executive Kirsten Carlier said: “Electrifying a third of the ground equipment in just a few weeks – that’s quite a feat by our technical department. A heavy electric tractor or a high loader for an aeroplane are not exactly the kind of vehicles you take along to the garage.
“All the maintenance and training is carried out by DHL employees, now including that of the new electric tractors and chargers. From now on, we will continue to expand our electric ground fleet in phases; the fossil fuel machines will be systematically phased out and will soon be a minority.”
She added that large electric cargo aircraft are a long way off: “An electric cargo plane, such as a Boeing 777 or Airbus A350, is still a long way off. Probably not even for the next decade, unfortunately.
“The problem is that the batteries would be too heavy for a cargo plane. The development of alternatives will require research and time. What is possible in the short term are smaller types of aircraft, for shorter distances.
“According to the current planning, DHL will put twelve e-cargo air freight planes into service in 2027. Who knows, maybe these electric planes may soon be flying at Brussels Airport too.”
The company has been supported in the investments by the Stargate project, a Brussels Airport project with a consortium of 21 partners, which has been awarded subsidies under the European Green Deal to develop projects for greener aviation.
Emissions from ground-handling equipment account for 55% of the total CO2 footprint of DHL Express ground operations at the airport. Full electrification therefore means halving their CO2 emissions.
Brussels Airport chief executive Arnaud Feist said: “We are pleased that we are taking the next important step in the electrification of ground-handling equipment within our Stargate project, and that DHL Express is taking the lead.
“This can drastically reduce both CO2 emissions and the noise impact of ground operations, which is important for both staff and local residents. We will, of course, help to provide the necessary charging points on the tarmac.
“We will also be testing hydrogen-powered ground handling equipment within Stargate, in order to see which infrastructure is needed for this too, so that we can support all our partners in their evolution towards more sustainable ground handling equipment.”
Brussels Airport launches Stargate project for greener aviation
