Aéroport Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne has taken delivery of a ground-breaking Vestergaard de-icer – the Elephant e-Mini MY Lite.
The vehicle is the world’s first fully electrical de-icer, marking a significant step in ground handling sustainability and complementing Aéroport Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne’s sustainable strategy of reducing carbon emissions. Part of VINCI Airports, it aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The e-Mini MY Lite is built on the “Vestergaard e” electrical chassis and the fluid is also heated electrically. The de-icer services aircraft up to B757 with a tank capacity of 4,000 litres. The e-Mini MY Lite supplied to Aéroport Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne has a 40-kWh battery (a 62kWh battery is also possible), can handle 8-12 de-icings depending on rate of contamination/fluid needs, and can drive 40-75km on a single charge. The unit comes with an on-board charger for the chassis and a plug-in for the heater.
Purchased with the financial support of SMACFA (Syndicat Mixte Aéroport Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne), the adoption of the e-Mini MY Lite marks a key stage in the electrification of airport ground handling vehicles and is part of a larger airport-wide environmental drive. Aéroport Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne has already, among other things, replaced its lighting system with LEDs and introduced temperature instructions to reduce the energy consumption of buildings.
Image: Vestergaard
