Hamburg Airport Tests Hydrogen-powered Luggage Tractors

      The trial, set to last six to nine months, will assess multiple aspects including technical functionality, fuel consumption, and the economic feasibility of wider application. Julian Klaaßen, project manager of Net Zero 2035 at Hamburg Airport, emphasizes that this test bridges the gap between theory and practice. He adds that converting existing vehicles offers a realistic and scalable way to gradually make ground services CO₂-free, a crucial part of the airport’s climate strategy.

       This isn’t Hamburg Airport’s first foray into hydrogen-powered equipment. In 2019, it trialled a hydrogen-based tug, which was later tested for winter suitability at locations like Bristol Airport, Cranfield University, and Riga Airport. The airport states that the current test is a decisive step forward as it marks the first integration of a hydrogen combustion engine into a production vehicle already in operation.

        Silas Hofmann, HTM’s chief technology officer and co-founder, says the test is vital for fossil-free ground handling, showing how sustainable solutions can fit into existing airport processes. This project comes after a similar trial in the UK in April, where Exeter Airport completed the first live turnaround using hydrogen-powered baggage tractors, pushback tractors, and ground power units.