The first fully electrically powered vehicle in Budapest Airport’s fleet, a Smart Electric Drive, has entered service. More modern, cleaner cars are appearing at the airport one after the other, as Budapest Airport aims to continuously reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. It will be possible to see the little electric Smart not only at the airport, but in Budapest as well.

The new Smart ED, or Electric Drive, has been bustling around on Budapest Airport’s internal road network for the past few days with a quiet murmur, following its commissioning. The little, fully electrically powered two-seater is the product of Budapest Airport’s efforts to continuously, gradually reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. According to current plans, there could be as many as 100 electric vehicles in operation at the airport by 2020, including not just passenger cars, but also special handling vehicles and heavy-duty machinery performing airport-specific tasks.

Based on the calculations of Budapest Airport’s environmental experts, the airport is an ideal environment for the operation of electric cars, as vehicles are required to move relatively short distances, which makes the operation of vehicles with internal combustion engines less efficient. Although electric vehicles do not emit any carbon dioxide, they are powered by electricity produced by power plants in Hungary. This means that an estimated 7.2 kg of CO₂ is generated for every 100 kilometers of use, but this is still considerably less than the emissions of a modern diesel engine, of around 18.7 kg CO₂ / 100 km.

“We are continuously collecting experiences of operating electric vehicles, to be able to determine the precise extent of the benefits in terms of maintenance, compared to traditional vehicles. The new Smart certainly became an overnight sensation at the airport, turning the heads of many passengers and staff as it moves along. We hope that within a few years, the sight of electric vehicles will be customary at Budapest Airport,” said Péter Huszka, chief operating officer for Budapest Airport.

Budapest Airport has launched a program in order to coordinate and encourage environmental developments amongst the nearly 200 partner companies operating at the airport, with the dissemination of electric mobility as one of its important elements. International experience shows that airports are well suited to the operation of electric vehicles, both in airside areas, during the ground handling of flights, as well as in public car parks, where charging stations and related services can be provided. More than 1000 vehicles are used for the handling of flights, the towing of hold baggage trolleys and by authority staff members, all within a circle with a radius of less than 10 km, in the airside areas, closed to public traffic. As a result of the program, partner companies operating at the airport have started indicating the need for charging stations for their newly purchased electric vehicles, and are testing the various special solutions offered by manufacturers.

Photos of Budapest Airport’s new Smart ED are available here: https://goo.gl/sPRxLX

Due to its state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge developments and services, HungaroControl Hungarian Air Navigation Services Pte. Ltd. Co. is one of the most accurate, most efficient and most reliable service providers in international aviation, and an active regional initiator and co-operating partner of the European Union’s integration efforts under the Single European Sky.

According to EUROCONTROL’s statistical data and forecasts, the number of flights in Europe is 10 million per annum, and in the next 20 years this figure may even double. During the past few years HungaroControl has launched several significant projects to improve its air navigation services, guarantee the safe management of the increasing air traffic, and promote the imminent success of the integration undertaken by the European Union.

Due to its continuous innovation and the application of the results of its research and development, HungaroControl has an outstanding role in Europe in flight safety improvements, capacity increases, reduction of airline costs and increased environmental protection. As a result of combined efforts and on commission from NATO, since 3 April 2014, HungaroControl has been managing civilian air traffic overflights in the upper airspace over Kosovo. In February 2015 HungaroControl was the first to adopt Free Route Airspace use without any limitations in Hugnary’s entire airspace, well before the deadline set by the European Commission.

In addition to improving its traditional air navigation services and technical and technological background, one of HungaroControl’s strategic objectives is the establishment of a Central European air navigation knowledge centre in joint effort with its partners. The 2013 implementation of its new, state-of-the-art air navigation centre enabled HungaroControl to relocate its businesses engaged in innovation in a single place, in the building of a former ANS. The establishment of a knowledge centre is justified by increasing international market demand for research and development, simulation and training to support air navigation, which is partly generated by European integration and the objectives related to the functional airspace blocks. On the initiative of HungaroControl Zrt, the regional air navigation knowledge centre will be set up with the involvement of the Hungarian universities and institutions engaged in aviation sector innovation.

The purpose of HungaroControl’s capital investment projects is to enable the Central European Functional Airspace Block (FAB CE), a regional co-operation of seven Central European countries, to provide competitive services and operate at the highest technical and technological standard.

HungaroControl’s corporate social responsibility is an approach integral to the Company’s organisational culture, pervading all corporate activities with a focus on ensuring sustainable development. 

As HungaroControlproactively contributes to solving local and global problems; it is also in constant dialogue with the people living in its surroundings as well as neighbouring local councils.

The Company’s Support Policy focuses on improving the natural and operating environment, recognising sports achievements that are outstanding on an international level, supporting extraordinary events that require national solidarity, initiatives that are conducive to popularising aviation and air transport, research, development and innovation projects, and promoting equal opportunities for children.