22 June 2023
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Cork Airport has taken delivery of five new fully-electric, zero-emissions, vehicles as part of the airport’s commitment to its Sustainability strategy. The five vehicles, which will form part of the maintenance, electrical and airport police fleets, are part of Cork Airport’s ongoing commitment to reducing emissions by 51% by 2030, in line with targets set out by the Government.
The new vehicles include two Ford E-Transit and Mercedes E-Vito vans, which will used by the electrical and maintenance teams while a new Skoda Enyaq will be deployed to the Cork Airport Police and Fire Service. The new vehicles complement other electric vehicles currently in use by airport police, car parks and asset management teams.
Pictured at Cork Airport, as five new electric, zero emissions vehicles were added to the maintenance, electrical and airport police fleet were (from left to right) Jonathan Murphy, Eoin Maguire, Paul O’Donovan, Ken Coady and Charles Ponchon. The new all electric vehicles will support the work of the maintenance and electrical teams, along with the airport police service.
The new additions to the fleet are part of a wider Sustainability strategy. Additional initiatives undertaken by Cork Airport include the construction of a new €6m electrical substation – designed to future proof of the electrical infrastructure for decades to come; the upgrade of lighting on the terminal campus to more energy efficient, LED lighting; and the reduction of energy usage within the terminal building.
Speaking on the delivery of the new full-electric, zero emissions vehicles, David Crowley, Sustainability Specialist at Cork Airport, said: “The addition of five new electric vehicles to the fleet at Cork Airport as part of our vehicle upgrade programme. is part of our ongoing efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. The vehicle replacement programme forms part of our commitment to reducing our emissions by 51% before 2030 – a target which Cork Airport is committed to meet.”
Outlining Cork Airport’s commitment to sustainability and energy reduction, Managing Director at Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy said: “The electrification of our fleet is just one of a number of measures which we are undertaking to make our airport greener. We will be announcing plans and applying for planning permission later this year for a significant solar farm on airport lands to further reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, we will continue to announce new initiatives in this space. The team at Cork Airport are very proud that SEAI recognise our journey to not just being Ireland’s greenest airport in 2021 but the best performing commercial semi-state in energy reduction in that year.”
Last year, Cork Airport was named as Ireland’s “Best Commercial Semi-State Body” for energy reduction by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). In their report which was published in March 2022, SEAI commented that Cork Airport is on track to meet the 2030 target in energy reduction as set out by the Irish Government. So far this year, Cork Airport has reduced its energy consumption by 25% versus the equivalent period in 2019.