Power Generation

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has installed ten wind-powered electricity generators and is using them to power an electric utility vehicle.

The ten 1 kW Aerovironment wind turbines on top of the airport fire station are being used to power a fully-electric Cushman Motors e-Ride exv2 utility vehicle, which has a range of 45-55 miles and costs around $200 a year to run.

The Minnesota airport is testing the viability of using wind-generated electricity to power electric vehicles at the airport to reduce fuel costs and emissions.

If the test indicates that the set-up could be financially and operationally sustainable, the approach could be expanded in the future.

“Testing the potential of wind power and electric vehicles is part of an ongoing effort to explore cost-effective, environmentally sound alternatives in the development and operation of Metropolitan Airports Commission airports,” says Metropolitan Airports Commission director Jeff Hamiel.

“We will monitor how well the wind-power generators and the electric vehicle perform at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to determine whether they might play a bigger role in the airport’s future,” he adds

For further information:
www.mspairport.com/MAC/

The electric-powered utility vehicle, which produces no emissions, being tested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. (Photo: Metropolitan Airports Commission)