Stuttgart Airport has been investing in apron vehicles with electric drives for several years. For example, the fleet of apron buses has already been completely converted. The local oil company Skytanking has now put the first electric tank truck into operation.

It is said to be the first model in its size class in the world to be powered by an electric motor. The tank holds up to 40 cubic meters of kerosene. According to a statement from Stuttgart Airport, it is now possible for all operations on the apron to be carried out with electric vehicles. For this reason, we see ourselves as a “pioneer in e-mobility”.

The new electric tanker weighs 52 tons and holds 40.000 liters of kerosene. It was developed by the body manufacturer Esterer together with Daimler Truck with the aim of being able to supply a wide range of aircraft with fuel. The realization took place as part of the airport's “finalize!” research project together with the University of Aachen and Skytanking. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK).

“With the project finalize! We are reaching another important milestone on the way to emission-free apron traffic. We will not rest on our laurels, but will continue to consistently reduce the emissions from our operations,” said Ulrich Heppe, spokesman for the management of Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH.

By 2030, all aircraft handling at Stuttgart Airport should be climate-neutral. Between 2009 and 2022, CO2 emissions from handling traffic at the STR were reduced by 83 percent, primarily through the use of electric vehicles and the switch to stationary ground power. In the long term, even heavy special vehicles, such as those used by the airport fire department, should be powered by electricity.