The Goldhofer Phoenix E moves aircraft with a take-off weight of up to
352 tons
Lufthansa LEOS, the Lufthansa Group's ground handling specialist, is the launch customer for the all-electric towbarless aircraft tug Phoenix E from German manufacturer Goldhofer. The purely battery-electric vehicles are in use at Frankfurt Airport. The tug can move aircraft with a take-off weight of up to 352 tons over short and long distances between parking areas, maintenance hangars and departure positions.
Emission-free aircraft towing at up to 25 kilometers per hour
After extensive testing and training, Lufthansa LEOS added the first all-electric vehicles to its fleet in March 2022. The advantages of the electric tug are apparent; it moves aircraft without emissions and noise or vibration.
With a battery capacity of 165-kilowatt hours and a drive power of 240 kilowatts, aircraft can be moved at speeds of up to 25 kilometers per hour. Because the nose wheel of the aircraft is lifted and locked, the tug can move relatively quickly and is easier to maneuver than tugs with a tow bar.
Up to 20 towing jobs a day - all-electric
When controlling the operation of the towbarless aircraft tractor, it is necessary to consider how the state of charge develops for a day because aircraft tow tractors are "workhorses." They taxi to new parking positions in Frankfurt with the aircraft in tow for up to ten hours a day. The daily energy requirement for up to 20 towing jobs per vehicle is almost twice as high as the battery capacity. The thermo-controlled lithium-ion battery system allows rapid recharging even during short interruptions to work, which is carried out utilizing a dedicated charging infrastructure. Charging is done with green electricity. And this is already from the point of energy generation.
On the ground: conversion to CO2-neutral mobility by 2030
Lufthansa LEOS has been committed to sustainability on the ground for many years. Since May 2024, there are 6 fully electric and 2 hybrid tugs in operation at Frankfurt Airport. As a further measure, the Group is converting there to CO2-neutral mobility on the ground by 2030.
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The Inside Sessions (Season 3 Episode 5) | all electric aircraft tug
The Inside Sessions (Season 3 Episode 5) | all electric aircraft tug