Low emission ground services: “Green Gate“ opened at Frankfurt Airport

The E-PORT AN initiative partners; Fraport AG, Lufthansa Group, the State of Hesse and the Rhine-Main model electro-mobility region, opened the first “Green Gate” at Frankfurt Airport today.

At Lufthansa Gate A15 passengers can now inform themselves about the numerous electric mobility projects at Germany´s largest airport. As an important project component, the “Green Gate” presents aircraft ground services which in the future can be largely carried out with electric vehicles. The partners present their activities using models, information panels and animations, including solar-powered passenger airstairs, electric conveyor belt vehicles, hybrid aircraft tugs and electric pallet trucks.

Up to 20 different vehicles are used to service an aircraft. As a first step E-PORT AN is consolidating existing electric vehicles and integrating new electrically driven developments into the aircraft servicing process. Emissions and noise will thus be reduced, improving both the environmental footprint and working conditions on the apron. In addition, the effect of large-scale use of electric vehicles on the airport´s power grid is being considered. The aim of all E-PORT AN participants is to deploy more electric vehicles and thus come closer to the vision of a “green” aircraft ground servicing. 

E-PORT AN is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure via the Rhine-Main model electro-mobility region. The model electro-mobility regions are nationally coordinated by the NOW GmbH National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. The regional co-ordination lies at the project management centre of the Rhine-Main model region, which in turn is located at the Stadtwerke Offenbach Holding GmbH. Through the integration of E-PORT AN in the state “Strom bewegt” (“Power moves”) initiative the visibility of the project of the airport environment and beyond is ensured. 

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