Operated by Air bp, the vehicle was designed in Australia, and is capable of carrying 16,000 litres of Jet-A1.
Powered by lithium-ion batteries, it is designed to operate during the day and be charged overnight.
The Hon Catherine King MP, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government praised the project, saying: “Its ticked so many boxes that we’ve all been talking about. Australian designed, Australian innovation, Australian manufacturing, a future made in Australia, Australian jobs, decarbonising the transport sector, helping decarbonise the aviation sector which is really difficult to do.”
Following tests in Brisbane, Air bp intends to place a large order for the vehicles and develop export opportunities.
Daniel Tyzack, Managing Director Air bp Asia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to launch the refueller at Brisbane Airport where we are responsible for fuelling 30 airlines and approximately 100 flights daily. Our work reflects bp’s ambition to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and to help the world get to net zero by working with our customers to help decarbonise fuelling operations.”
The electric refueller joins a fleet of electric vehicles at Brisbane Airport, which rolled out an all-electric bus fleet in 2018, cutting emissions by 250 tonnes a year.
It is home to 18,000 solar panels with more to come and the airport is targeting net zero by 2025 by switching to 100% green electricity and developing an onsite carbon removal project within its 285-hectare Biodiversity Zone.
