New electric pushback tug unveiled at Munich Airport

Munich Airport today unveiled the latest new addition to its ground handling fleet, an electric powered tug capable of towing wide-body aircraft and achieving a maximum speed of 32 kilometres per hour.

Used for de-icing and aircraft towing at Munich Airport, the gateway’s new aircraft tow tractor is equipped with the latest 700V lithium-ion battery technology and has been named Phoenix by manufacturer, Goldhofer.

With the deployment of the all-electric aircraft pushback tug, operator EFM – a joint subsidiary of Lufthansa and Flughafen München GmbH (FMG) – is confident that it is doing its bit to help Munich Airport achieve its climate protection goals.

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The German airport aims to be 100% CO2-neutral by 2030 and plans to implement a wealth of technological innovations across the campus in order to achieve its goals, including the widespread adoption of electric and alternative powered ground handling vehicles.