FORT ATKINSON, Wis., - As the ground support industry continues to seek efficient solutions to lower carbon emissions, more ground service providers are turning to electric ground support equipment (eGSE). The interest in electrifying fleets has resulted in numerous battery technologies being developed for GSE-specific applications, Josh Smith reports for Ground Support Worldwide. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
8 January 2024 - According to Brian Kennedy, director of business development and marketing at Natron Energy, sodium-ion batteries can be utilized to electrify all forms of GSE, including baggage tugs and pushback tractors. They can also be used to power GSE charging stations.
“Any GSE that currently exists with gas or other batteries has the potential to use sodium-ion batteries as a way to efficiently hold and charge power. Natron’s batteries also allow airport operators to manage electricity demand and efficiently handle GSE charging,” Kennedy says.
“United Airlines Ventures was created to identify companies spearheading the next generation of innovative and emissions-reducing technology,” Michael Leskinen, president of United Airline Ventures, said in a press release announcing its investment in sodium-ion battery technology. “Out of the gate, we primarily focused on technology designed to help reduce carbon emissions from our airplanes. Natron’s cutting-edge sodium-ion batteries presented an ideal opportunity to both potentially expand our sustainability investment portfolio to our ground operations and to help make our airport operations more resilient. United is looking forward to future opportunities to work with our airport partners on sustainable technology initiatives.”
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
