Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has purchased nine electric Renault Kangoo vans for use at Dublin and Cork airports as part of the company's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.
The decision to opt for electric vehicles followed the DAA's participation in a programme that allowed the company to test drive a Kangoo Z.E. for a month to check its capabilities at a major international airport.
"The trial helped us build confidence throughout the organisation that buying electric vehicles wasn't just good for the environment, but also made sense from an operational perspective," according to DAA's Head of Sustainability, Mary Coveney. "Electric vehicles are perfect for an airport environment, as they have a range of 120km and will always be close to a main charging point."
The new electric vehicles will be used on a daily basis in both airside and landside locations by DAA maintenance crews, and staff from its car park and terminal services departments.
The vehicles were purchased from Renault Belgard, through Merrion Fleet Management with assistance from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and ESB ecars, which installed nine new charging units to support the investment.