Fully electric vehicles join Cork’s ground support fleet

Cork Airport has taken delivery of five new fully-electric, zero-emission vehicles as part of the airport’s commitment to its sustainability strategy.

The new additions, which will form part of the maintenance, electrical and airport police fleets, are part of Cork Airport’s ongoing commitment to reducing emissions by 51% by 2030, in line with targets set out by the Irish Government.

The new vehicles include two Ford E-Transit and Mercedes E-Vito vans, which will used by the electrical and maintenance teams while a new Skoda Enyaq will be deployed to the Cork Airport Police and Fire Service.

The new vehicles complement other electric vehicles currently in use by airport police, car parks and asset management teams.

Other sustainability initiatives undertaken by Cork Airport include the construction of a new €6m electrical substation – designed to future proof of the electrical infrastructure for decades to come; the upgrade of lighting on the terminal campus to more energy efficient, LED lighting; and the reduction of energy usage within the terminal building.

Cork Airport’s sustainability specialist, David Crowley, enthused: “The addition of the new electric vehicles to the fleet is part of our ongoing efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.

“The vehicle replacement programme forms part of our commitment to reducing our emissions by 51% before 2030 – a target which Cork Airport is committed to meet.”

Outlining Cork Airport’s commitment to sustainability and energy reduction, managing director, Niall MacCarthy, noted: “The electrification of our fleet is just one of a number of measures which we are undertaking to make our airport greener.

“We will be announcing plans and applying for planning permission later this year for a significant solar farm on airport lands to further reduce our carbon footprint.

“In addition, we will continue to announce new initiatives in this space. The team at Cork Airport are very proud that SEAI recognise our journey to not just being Ireland’s greenest airport in 2021 but the best performing commercial semi-state in energy reduction in that year.”

Last year, Cork Airport was named as Ireland’s ‘Best Commercial Semi-State Body’ for energy reduction by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

In their report which was published in March 2022, SEAI commented that Cork Airport is on track to meet the 2030 target in energy reduction as set out by the Irish Government.

So far this year, Cork Airport has reduced its energy consumption by 25% versus the equivalent period in 2019.