Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which already boasts a fleet compressed natural gas (CNG) shuttle buses and other clean transportation measures, will soon host almost 600 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to support all-electric ground support equipment.
The airport says the new project will save its airlines an estimated $2.8 million in fuel costs annually. Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle are spearheading the project, with support from Western Washington Clean Cities.
The Port of Seattle has installed charging corrals with DC fast-chargers that can recharge EVs in less than 4 hours. The first phase of the project includes nearly 300 charging locations, and the second phase will bring the total number of chargers to 576. The airport estimates that all work will be complete this fall.
‘This project provides the infrastructure for airlines to convert their vehicles from diesel to electric,’ says Courtney Gregoire, co-president of the Port of Seattle Commission. ‘As many as 650 vehicles could eventually be covered by electric technology and make a huge difference in the airport's carbon footprint.’
Alaska Airlines already has 204 EVs on the ground at Sea-Tac.
