ANA Repurposes Decommissioned GSE into EV: A Step Towards Reuse with a 1994 Belt Loader

All Nippon Airways (ANA) revealed to the media on May 20th that they have transformed a belt loader designated for decommissioning due to age into an electric vehicle (EV). The company plans to start operating it within the airport by the summer. According to ANA, this conversion of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to EV is the first instance among domestic airlines.

The belt loader, introduced in 1994 and used at Narita Airport until 2022, was converted to an EV by ANA Motor Service (ANAMS), responsible for the maintenance of GSE. The conversion process, from structural design and electrical circuit assembly to execution, was handled entirely by ANAMS employees over approximately two years. Electrical power was confirmed on February 27th this year, and the driving and load handling operation tests were successfully conducted on March 7th.

▲The driving motor (left) and the load handling motor installed during the EV conversion

The EV-converted belt loader will be recharged from chargers installed on the apron, etc., with its lithium-ion battery supplying the power to operate the driving and load handling motors. It is estimated that a charge of about 60 minutes will allow it to operate for one day at Haneda Airport. In addition to the reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, there are also economic benefits anticipated by developing EV-type GSE vehicles in-house, given their high import prices.

▲The ANA Future Promise Jet – a special livery aircraft operating on domestic routes (Boeing 787-8, Registration: JA874A)

The design of the vehicle follows the motif of water and greenery, aligned with the special livery aircraft such as “ANA Future Promise Jet” and “ANA Future Promise Prop”, symbols of ANA’s efforts in ESG management. Going forward, the company aims for practical application through applications to the Civil Aviation Bureau (CAB) and conducting demonstration tests.

▲President Kazutoshi Tsujimura of ANA Motor Service

While average belt loaders are disposed of after 20-25 years of use, ANA anticipates extending the lifespan of the EV-converted models by an additional 15 years. Kazutoshi Tsujimura, president of ANAMS, has indicated plans to convert two more vehicles to EV within this fiscal year and aims to start converting other types of vehicles beginning in fiscal year 2025.