Fraport has put two fully electric aircraft tow tractors from Goldhofer into service at Frankfurt Airport, with a third vehicle already on order. The E-Phoenix units are used to move large passenger aircraft on the apron, including for pushback and repositioning, as the airport expands the electrification of its ground fleet and cuts emissions in daily operations.
The tractors are designed for routine use around one of Europe’s busiest hubs, where ground handling equipment can account for significant local emissions. Hesse is supporting the purchase with 171,700 euros from its electromobility programme. The tow tractors have a battery capacity of 240 kilowatt-hours and can be recharged in about 1.5 hours using fast charging, allowing them to return quickly to service between assignments.