Vestergaard has marked a milestone, delivering the first of its new Elephant e-Mini MY Lite deicers to Clermont-Ferrand Airport in the Auvergne region in France. The delivery is the first time the fully electrical deicer has been delivered to an airport globally.

Clermont-Ferrand is operated by VINCI Airports, which has a robust sustainability strategy to reduce carbon emissions and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Built on Vestergaard’s electrical chassis, the e-Mini MY Lite’s fluid is also heated electrically. The de-icer can service aircraft up to the size of a B757 with a tank capacity of 4,000 litres. It has a 40-kwh battery and can handle eight to 12 de-icings depending on the rate of contamination/ fluid needs. It can also drive 40-75km on a single charge.

Damien Le Gac, Country Manager Vestergaard France said: “Vestergaard is proud to supply its first 100% electrical de-icer, the e-Mini MY Lite to Clermont-Ferrand Airport. We hope the new unit will be a big success for our new customer and we are happy to be able to contribute to the ambition of VINCI Airports in reaching net zero emissions by 2050.”

He was joined by Herve Bonin, Managing Director of Clermont-Ferrand Airport, who added: “This is not the first time that Aeroport Clermont-Ferrand has entered the aviation history books. As early as 1916, Michelin built the world’s first concrete-paved runway on the current site of the airport for the needs of the Breguet aircraft built for the French army. In 2021, teh airport was the first in France to supply sustainable aviation fuel. We are proud to be able to offer an implement in Clermont-Ferrand immediate and effective responses to aviation decarbonisation challenges, led by VINCI Airports.”

The airport has benefitted from financial support from Syndicat Mixte Aeroport Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne (SMACFA) to help ‘with the electrification of airport ground handling vehicles, alongside other measures, such as replacing its entire lighting system with LEDs and introducing steps to reduce the energy consumption in the airport buildings.

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