Guangtai Positions To Meet Electric Ground Support Equipment Demand

HONG KONG—Weihai Guangtai Airport Equipment Co. is leveraging its electric vehicle (EV) expertise to capitalize on growing demand for electrified ground support equipment (GSE), a trend driven by the global push toward net-zero emissions.

The company, known simply as Guangtai, manufactures 144 different vehicle types across the GSE, firefighting and special-purpose vehicle domains. Approximately 90% of its product portfolio is already electrified.

Ben Xu, general manager of Guangtai's international business division, tells Aviation Week here at Super Terminal Expo that vehicle and electric infrastructure pooling is becoming increasingly popular at airports. This approach not only increases vehicle utilization among various ground handlers, but also minimizes infrastructure footprint through shared charging points.

Spain’s Barcelona Airport is one site utilizing a vehicle-pooling concept with Guangtai airport buses, managed by GSE leasing company TCR Group.

Other international handlers and airlines utilizing Guangtai vehicles include Cathay Pacific, dnata, SATS and Qantas.

Li Haoyan, an executive at Guangtai, said the company has significant operational experience with EVs in the GSE sector and has one of the largest production capacities globally. He said the company's factory in Weihai, Shandong province, can produce 400 pallet loaders annually.

Li also noted a growing requirement from European and North American airports for electrified fire trucks. The company plans to transfer its EV technology to a new firefighting model, scheduled for unveiling in 2027.

Guangtai is also developing autonomous driving vehicles. These are already in service at Xinjiang Urumqi Airport and at Hong Kong International Airport through a collaboration with UISEE.