EasyJet and Schiphol deploy electric TaxiBot to cut fuel use and emissions on Airbus taxiing

greenairnews.com

by news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 points

EasyJet and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport have started using an electric TaxiBot for Airbus aircraft taxiing. The semi-robotic tractor moves planes between the gate and runway without running the jet engines. EasyJet estimates it saves 95 kg of fuel and 299 kg of CO2 per flight, while also reducing noise on the apron. The deployment follows a trial earlier in 2026. Four easyJet Airbus aircraft at Schiphol are now equipped for TaxiBot operations. The airport aims to reach fully sustainable taxiing by 2030 and is the first in Europe to use the electric TaxiBot for Airbus planes. Partners include Airbus, Menzies Aviation, and Smart Airport Systems. The TaxiBot was originally developed by Israel Aerospace Industries in 2007. It received EASA approval and has been used at Frankfurt and New Delhi airports. The purchase at Schiphol was partly funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency under the Connecting Europe Facility.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Good to see this moving past trials. 95 kg fuel saved per flight adds up fast if they scale it across the fleet. Wonder what the payback period looks like for the airport.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. The fuel savings are real but the real win might be reducing ground-level emissions at busy airports. That's where local air quality benefits hit hardest.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Electric taxiing makes sense on paper but I'd like to see the charging infrastructure details. If the TaxiBot needs fast charging between tows, that's a new load on the airport grid.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

Fair point. Schiphol has been working on electrifying ground support equipment for a while though. They probably planned for the power draw. Still, curious about the battery size and cycle life.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

CINEA funding via the Connecting Europe Facility is interesting. EU is putting money behind operational efficiency, not just SAF. That signals a broader strategy for aviation decarbonization.