New vehicles displayed at inter airport Europe 2019, the 22nd International Exhibition for Airport Equipment, Technology, Design and Services held at the Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany.
LATHAM, N.Y. — Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a leading provider of hydrogen engines and fueling solutions enabling e-mobility, has partnered with German specialty vehicle manufacturer MULAG to bring a new generation of hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric cargo tow tractors to Germany’s Hamburg Airport. To kick off the initiative, the two companies joined forces to build a fuel cell-powered vehicle, which ran alongside the airport’s existing ground support equipment (GSE) fleet for a period of evaluation and service testing and concluded successfully.
The vehicle produced by the partnership was built by MULAG and operates using Plug Power’s zero-emission ProGen hydrogen engine. Based on its successful deployment and its unique scalability, Plug Power will provide Hamburg Airport with 60 additional units to power their baggage-towing fleet along with permanent hydrogen stations for consistent and efficient refueling.
“We’re excited to be delivering a new generation of alternative energy solutions for Hamburg Airport, which for nearly 20 years has been a leader in leveraging alternative drive systems for its baggage towing fleet,” said Andy Marsh, CEO, Plug Power. “The transportation sector is a leading contributor to climate emissions, and we’re honored to be working with an airport dedicated to greening GSE operations.”
Plug Power’s partnership with MULAG is the latest example of the Company’s ongoing efforts to bring zero-emission, hydrogen power to the airport GSE market. It arrives on the heels of a similar partnership launched earlier this year in collaboration with FedEx and battery-powered GSE manufacturer Charlatte America at New York’s Albany International Airport. Along with these programs, Plug Power is working with other European airport operators to install similar fuel cell electric vehicles. Airport electric vehicle applications abound and include belt loaders, cargo loaders, and several types of equipment designed to move cargo, baggage and people.
Plug Power’s ProGen hydrogen fuel cell technology specifically allows GSE vehicles like cargo tow tractors to tow up to 40,000 pounds without stopping for up to four hours, while only requiring three to four minutes for refueling. These zero-emission vehicles also operate with a high energy efficiency of around 45%. Wear and tear on the vehicles is lower, reducing maintenance demands such as oil changes, brakes and starter replacements. As a result, these vehicles reduce operational costs while increasing productivity.
About Plug Power Inc.
The architect of modern hydrogen and fuel cell technology, Plug Power is the innovator that has taken hydrogen and fuel cell technology from concept to commercialization. Plug Power has revolutionized the material handling industry with its full-service GenKey solution, which is designed to increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints in a reliable, cost-effective way. The Company’s GenKey solution couples together all the necessary elements to power, fuel and serve a customer. With proven hydrogen and fuel cell products, Plug Power replaces lead-acid batteries to power electric industrial vehicles, such as the lift trucks customers use in their distribution centers.
Extending its reach into the on-road electric vehicle market, Plug Power’s ProGen platform of modular fuel cell engines empowers OEMs and system integrators to rapidly adopt hydrogen fuel cell technology. ProGen engines are proven today, with thousands in service, supporting some of the most rugged operations in the world. Plug Power is the partner that customers trust to take their businesses into the future. Learn more at www.plugpower.com.
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