United States airports are investing in electric buses to help passengers make connections from airport terminals to rental cars and parking lots. Electric buses – whether they be trolleys or battery electric – emit less air pollution, are quieter and less odorous.
Why electric buses and airports work
Battery electric buses are becoming a popular amenity for airports to offer. According to electric bus manufacturer Proterra CEO Ryan Popple in a statement,
“Airports are an ideal use case for electric vehicle technology because of their predictable circulator routes and potential for shared charging infrastructure with other service vehicles in the fleet.”
Indeed, most medium and large airports use buses to transfer passengers and their luggage between airport terminals and parking lots. Other airport vehicles like animal patrol can also easily be electrified.
For Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), the purchase is “…implementing sustainable practices that are cost-effective and that create a better experience for our employees and visitors,” as noted by Chief Operating Officer Jack Christine. As Canary Media reported on October 28, 2022, Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry felt;
“Our largest effort to reduce emissions is to electrify our entire shuttle bus fleet.”
The plan is to replace the sixty shuttle buses at the sixth busiest US airport with fifty electric buses. Although electric buses cost more upfront, they do not require expensive, polluting fossil fuels, which saves money over the lifespan of the buses.
Finally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave no less than $27 million in grants to help purchase electric buses. As Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Canary Media.
Source: https://simpleflying.com/us-airport-electric-bus-investment/?newsletter_popup=1
