World Fuel Services has converted diesel-powered refueling trucks at France’s Toulon Hyères Airport into all-electric refueling trucks to eliminate carbon emissions during aircraft refueling.
The Florida-based energy management firm says the electric trucks with integrated pumping capability are now distributing Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to commercial and business operators at the airport, which is operated by VINCI Airports.
“World Fuel’s mission is to enable customers and partners in the aviation sector to adopt sustainable practices and decarbonize their operations,” said Duncan Storey, Vice President of Supply Aviation Europe at World Fuel Services. “Our shared vision of a sustainable future has propelled us to expand our traditional services beyond renewables such as SAF, solar, and electricity into developing sustainable equipment for airport operations through electrifying traditionally carbon-intensive refueling vehicles.”
The company adds that its concept to reusing existing diesel-powered refuelers and electrifying them reduces the need for new electric vehicles and helps avoid waste associated with disposing of existing trucks.
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The all-electric drive train of the converted trucks also offers easier maintenance and faster retrofit operations, reducing downtime. In addition to this, World Fuel’s sustainability division World Kinect Energy Services installed solar panels on top of Toulon Hyères’ fueling office to further decarbonize the airport’s operations.
“The addition of this new SAF offering and electrification of our refueling operations in collaboration with World Fuel demonstrates VINCI Airports’ commitment to decarbonizing air transport and sustainable mobility,” said Basma Jarbouai, Director of Toulon Hyères Airport. “The availability of biofuels for all our customers at Toulon Hyères Airport is the crossing of an important milestone that will allow them to operate in ever more environmentally friendly conditions.”
