Textron Ground Support Equipment was showcasing the company’s next-generation TUG MX4 lithium-electric baggage tractor at GSE Expo Europe this September.
Textron Ground Support Equipment says the TUG MX4 has been designed and engineered with extensive customer input to maximise uptime, simplify operation, extend service life and easily integrate future technologies and innovations. Built with direct customer feedback to address the real-world operational needs of airlines, air-cargo operators, and ground handlers, the tractor offers simplified operator controls, best-in-class turning radius, electronically assisted service brakes and an electronic parking brake.
“Designed with extensive input from our customers, the TUG MX4 represents a complete rethink of the legacy baggage tractor,” said Tony LaCorte, Senior Director, Operations for Textron GSE. “It combines durability, simplified systems, and lithium performance and sustainability into a platform that’s also ready for what’s coming next.
“Its systems are built to adapt to future integrations of autonomy and emerging operational and safety innovations. It’s a scalable solution that can evolve alongside an operation, rather than requiring full replacement down the line. The TUG MX4 will deliver dependable high performance today while preparing your operation for the future.”
The tractor is built on a unibody steel frame with reinforced ½-inch body plating and a heavy-duty ¾-inch bumper and its inching controls allow for precise low-speed manoeuvrability at airport gates.
It has a 80-volt lithium-ion direct drive system that’s designed and built with expertise gleaned from TUG’s eight generations of 80-volt electric tractors. This design delivers more efficient energy use, reduces maintenance, and consistently performs across mainline passenger and cargo duty cycles. It also eliminates traditional hydraulics, for easier serviceability, increased run time, greater reliability, and simpler integration with future electronic systems.
The tractor can tow up to 20,000 lbs and has a top speed of 15 mph, 8 mph on grades of up to 9%, and up to 60,000 lbs. on flat ground. It also offers flexible charging options such as interchangeable charging ports and available onboard chargers.
Several standard and available safety features are included such as an electronic parking brake, amber operational beacon, a state-of-charge indicator, work lights and visibility enhancements, and operator-protection elements such as hip & rear window guards.
