COBUS Industries hand over first electrical apron bus in Austria
More than 30% of the vehicle fleet is powered by electricity / COBUS 3000 will help save up to 20.000 kilograms of carbon dioxide / energy management at the airport is working: Salzburg Airport produces 4% of their own requirements / photovoltaics are on the rise
Salzburg Airport has long been able to acquire COBUS, a company based in Wiesbaden and leading producer of airport busses, as a partner. The airport has been using busses supplied by COBUS for transporting passengers from the terminal to the parking positions on the apron for several years. Now Salzburg Airport welcomed the first power-driven apron bus in Salzburg.
“I am very proud that we not only use power-driven standard utility vehicles, but that we may now call ourselves owner of an electric airport bus”, says Bettina Ganghofer, CEO of Salzburg Airport.
Purchasing an electric apron bus perfectly expands the airport´s power-driven vehicle fleet.
Whether it be an airport tug, a cleaning vehicle, a mobile luggage belt or passenger stairs, electrically driven vehicles make a substantial part of our fleet.
“When we had to take a diesel-powered bus out of service, we ordered a power-driven bus by COBUS. We use apron busses for more than 1800 hours of operation, which means that the electric bus helps us save about 20.000 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year – quite an astounding figure!”, says Gernot Toiflhart, Deputy Head Ground Operations.
“In October 2015 we first presented the fully power-driven airport bus at the Inter Airport in Munich – the e-COBUS 3000. Since its introduction, 43 busses have already been sold in Europe and to North America and Asia. COBUS Industries are very pleased to be able to hand over the first e-COBUS 3000 to Austria, which means that Salzburg Airport owns the first fully electrically driven apron bus”, confirms Rüdiger Hömberg, Technical Director of COBUS Industries.
Salzburg Airport aims at reducing the use of fossil fuels to 20% of the overall energy use. At present 4% of the energy needed by Salzburg Airport are covered by its own photovoltaic system.
“We produce about 180.000 kWh of solar energy. Of course installing the plant costs money, but it is great to see that the energy produced is almost free of cost. By producing 4% of our own energy use, we are saving € 20.000 per year”, says Alexandra Reisinger, Facility Manager at Salzburg Airport.
And there are many examples showing that the airport emphasizes the economical use of resources. When restructuring the airport tunnel all the lights were exchanged and by using an innovative LED lighting system, the power used for about 25 households can be saved per year. The approach lights have also been replaced by a LED lighting system, which lasts longer and produces fewer costs for energy. By the way: Did you know that we offer 6 electric filling stations in our multi-storey car park free of costs? By 2020 we are planning to install a total of 20 electric filling stations. For bikers, you will find a number of free charging stations directly at the bicycle parking areas.
“It is essential to be environmentally aware and economically efficient at the same time. The environment plays an important role in all our strategic decisions. We always try to find the best and environmentally most compatible solution. The new electric airport bus helps reduce ground noise, which I really appreciate”, says Bettina Ganghofer, CEO of Salzburg Airport.
