AeroGround at Munich Airport has opened a dedicated electric bus depot with permanent charging infrastructure to support a 37-bus battery-electric shuttle fleet, paving the way for expansion toward 72 units under its Net Zero 2035 programme.

AeroGround, Munich Airport’s ground-handling arm, has opened a dedicated electric bus depot in the southern part of the site to support zero-emission apron operations. The facility already serves 37 battery-electric buses supplied by MAN, with a fleet split of 20 solo units and 17 articulated buses that shuttle passengers between terminals and aircraft. The depot provides permanent charging infrastructure for these vehicles, and there is capacity to expand the fleet beyond 72 units should operational needs and charging capacity allow. Honestly, this move marks a sizable stride toward electrified ground handling, and Jost Lammers, Chairman of the Management Board of Flughafen München GmbH, put it this way: “With this new depot, we’re building the necessary infrastructure for fully electrified ground operations on the aprons. Half of our current ground fleet already runs on battery power. This project is another big step forward for our Net Zero 2035 strategy, bringing us closer to operating as a carbon-neutral airport.” The project sits alongside broader mobility subsidies and is being backed by the German federal government, with Ulrich Lange, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, describing targeted support to modernise Munich’s bus fleet and accelerate progressive mobility for both domestic and international guests. Expansion plans already call for 13 additional charging points by summer 2025, with a third phase in 2026–2027 to add 22 more chargers and carports equipped with photovoltaic systems; officials also note a broader transition across AeroGround, including 173 electric transporters and related equipment, as well as 20 electric ground power units deployed to supply aircraft at remote stands, reducing emissions and noise.

This move fits Munich Airport’s broader Net Zero 2035 programme, which aims to decarbonise the apron fleet and ramp up electrification across ancillary ground operations. Industry reporting indicates MAN began delivering the first ten electric solo buses in 2024, followed by a further 27 Lion’s City E models slated for deployment by the end of the year, with an option for an additional 25. The project has drawn €23.8 million in funding from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport under a directive for buses with alternative drives, supplemented by support from NextGeneration EU mechanisms. The aim, according to the airport’s programme messaging, is to have half of the apron fleet electric by now and to progress toward carbon-neutral operations globally. The funding arrangements and procurement cadence underscore a stepwise approach to fleet electrification that aligns with broader European decarbonisation initiatives and NOW/PTJ schemes that subsidise advanced-drive buses and related charging infrastructure.

Looking ahead, Munich Airport’s infrastructure plan is designed to scale with demand and technology. In addition to the 37 connections already in place, a staged roll-out will add 13 more charging points by late summer 2025 and, in the 2026–2027 window, 22 more chargers and PV-enabled carports to support on-site generation. The underlying fleet expansion remains targeted, with 18 more electric buses expected to join the fleet by year-end, bringing the total toward the 72-vehicle long-term target. Beyond buses, AeroGround’s electrification programme encompasses a broad spectrum of ground-service equipment and vehicles, a move that is widely watched by fleet managers and propulsion suppliers across the automotive aftermarket as a test-bed for rapid infrastructure convergence, high-utilisation charging, and integrated energy management on busy international gateways. Emissions reductions are central to the rationale, with officials emphasising that electrification—coupled with on-site renewables and efficient ground power—will materially cut noise and local pollution around terminal operations.

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Source: Noah Wire Services