The Delhi airport’s operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), announced on Monday that it has decided to replace all of its vehicles for its airside operations with EVs over the next four months as part of the Green Transportation Program to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions.
The proposal to install 62 electric cars on the airside of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, which includes the runway, taxiway, and apron used for airplane arrival and departure, will help eliminate roughly 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
The introduction of DIAL’s Green Transportation Program coincides with World Environment Day. In addition, the airport operator declared that it will establish high voltage and quick charging stations in strategic areas to satisfy the needs of these cars and other airport users.
For this program, DIAL collaborated with original equipment manufacturers to make the necessary alterations in the EVs to install airport-specific electronics. It is collaborating closely with IGI stakeholders to ensure an easier transition to EVs at the airport.
In response to the news, DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar stated, “DIAL has set a target to make Delhi Airport a Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030, and is continuously working to achieve this goal. We are planning to eliminate all the light vehicles of petrol and diesel in a phased manner from Delhi Airport and use electric vehicles instead.”
The use of electric cars to manage airport operations is a positive step. “This is the first-of-its-kind program by any Indian airport to maintain a clean transit environment,” Jaipuriar added.
DIAL now provides electric buses for passenger transportation from Terminal 3 to the Passenger Transport Centre (PTC) building. To become a “Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport” (NZCEA) by 2030, DIAL plans to get all of its power from renewable sources, ensuring that charging of these cars is likewise emission-free, according to Jaipuriar.