SCOTTSDALE, AZ -- Long Beach Airport and Electric Transportation Engineering Company (eTec), a wholly owned subsidiary of ECOtality, Inc., a renewable energy company that acquires and commercially advances clean electric technologies and applications, today announced it completed the installation of five dual port SuperCharge systems at Long Beach Airport.
The five dual port SuperCharge stations will be used to recharge a fleet of electric baggage tractors and belt loaders that service JetBlue and US Airways. Able to charge up to 40 electric ground support vehicles, the SuperCharge installation provides the infrastructure for Long Beach Airport to transition its ground support equipment from gasoline and diesel powered equipment to pure electric powered systems. By reducing its dependence on gasoline, the airport will cut fueling costs, while significantly reducing noise and air pollution. The City of Long Beach received funding from the California Air Resources Board for the installation.
"The Long Beach Airport SuperCharge installation is proof of how fast charging battery technologies enable airports and material handling operators to lessen their harmful effect on the environment," says Don Karner, president and CEO of eTec. "There is an increasing movement amongst airlines and airports to cut emissions and reduce fueling costs by switching from gasoline and diesel to pure electric systems. Long Beach Airport is really setting a trend in economic and environmental consciousness as this installation is one of many that will help us realize our goal of enabling an electro-centric world where we power all vehicles, from material handling equipment to automobiles, with clean electricity."
Specifically engineered for airport ground support equipment, neighborhood electric vehicle operations, and marine and transit applications, the exclusively patented eTec SuperCharge system is based on advanced algorithms that allow faster charging with less heat generation and longer battery life than any other fast charge system available. Using the eTec SuperCharge system, airports and airlines can convert from diesel and gasoline ground support equipment to clean electric systems that produce zero emissions.
According to a February 2007 report published by ETEC and the U.S. Department of Energy, use of electric ground support equipment can reduce annual fueling costs by 70 to 80 percent and reduce total operating costs by 30 to 40 percent when compared to internal combustion engine ground support equipment that operates on gasoline or diesel fuel. Currently installed in 13 major airports in North America, there are more than 300 eTec SuperCharge systems in daily operation that service more than 1,000 pieces of electric ground support equipment.
"In line with Long Beach Airport's Green Airport Program, powering our fleet of electric ground support equipment with the eTec SuperCharge system will reduce noise and air pollution, and help protect our residents, their neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for all Long Beach citizens," says Christine Andersen, Airport Director. "From a safety, cost, environmental and efficiency standpoint, transitioning to a fleet of clean electric ground support equipment just makes sense."
For more information visit www.etecevs.com, www.ecotality.com, and www.lgb.org.
