Fully electrical baggage and cargo tow tractor »SHERPA« E, developed by SUNCAR HK and Goldhofer, delivers convincing performance

SUNCAR HK and Goldhofer group developed one of the most powerful Li-Ion battery-powered baggage and cargo tow tractors. The »SHERPA« E is currently being tested in use and impresses airports all over the world.

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As in many other sectors, electric mobility is gaining importance, especially in the airport industry. Numerous airports, such as Frankfurt airport with its project «E-PORT AN», have set ambitious goals regarding their ecological footprint. As a result, the use of emission-free vehicles at airports is constantly increasing. As part of a platform strategy, Goldhofer, a leading provider of solutions for heavy-duty and oversized cargo haulage, has subsequently decided to not only offer a diesel, but also a fully electrical version of its baggage and cargo tow tractor »SHERPA«. The battery-driven »SHERPA« E has been developed together with SUNCAR HK.

In October last year, the »SHERPA« E was presented to the public at the inter airport Europe in Munich for the first time. Since then, it has been extensively tested in daily use at four different European airports. The tests have been a real success.

The »SHERPA« E differs from conventional electrical tow tractors because of its battery technology. Instead of the usual lead-acid battery, the »SHERPA« E is equipped with a Li-Ion battery. Unlike lead-acid batteries, Li-Ion batteries can be charged in closed rooms and allow fast charging of only one hour instead of the usual eight hours. A special charging infrastructure is not necessary thanks to the on-board charging technology of 22 or 44 kW. On top of that, maintenance is reduced to a minimum. These and other comfortable features are offered by the jointly developed »IonMaster« technology, which is used in further, already ongoing, development projects.

Apart from the benefits of the battery technology, the »SHERPA« E impresses with its performance in use. With a maximum towing capacity of up to 80 t, it can not only tow baggage, but also cargo at an efficient speed.

“It’s a privilege to work with Goldhofer, an extremely innovative industry leader,” comments Stefan Schneider, managing director of SUNCAR HK, the excellent cooperation.