BACKGROUND

Airport planners have few resources at their disposal to effectively plan for the projected growth of electric vehicles, electric mobile equipment, and electric aircraft. As airports are exploring how best to transition to the increasing electrification of airside and landside operations, there is a multitude of variables for them to consider and they need resources to plan and move forward.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop a planning guide, including an executive summary, for airports to inventory and assess the anticipated growth in electrification needs for vehicles, aircraft, and mobile equipment. As part of this inventory and assessment, airports will need to evaluate opportunities, considerations, and impacts such as:

• Charging infrastructure needs and siting considerations including codes and permitting;
• Ownership, maintenance, and business models of charging infrastructure;
• Funding and financing opportunities including grant assurance and compliance considerations;
• Current and projected market demand and availability of electric vehicles, aircraft, and mobile equipment;
• Different types of owners and users (airlines, airports, ground access providers, passengers, rental cars, utilities, etc.) including their roles and responsibilities;
• Optimization and opportunities to enhance grid capacity;
• Resiliency to support the continuity of operations;
• Lifecycle expectations of electric vehicles, aircraft, and mobile equipment;
• Emergency response;
• Risks and hazard mitigation; 
• Training; and
• Upcoming technologies and trends (e.g., demand management, interoperability, IT requirements and concerns).

RESEARCH PLAN

The research plan should include, at a minimum, the following deliverables for ACRP and panel review and approval: 

Phase I:

• A first draft of the planning guide, and
• Knowledge gaps identified in the research and a work plan to fill those gaps. This work plan would assist airports in preparing for the anticipated growth in electrification needs for vehicles, aircraft, and mobile equipment.  

Phase II:

• Execution of the approved work plan submitted in Phase I.

The research plan should also include checkpoints with the ACRP panel including, at a minimum, (1) a kick-off teleconference meeting to be held within 1 month of the Notice to Proceed, (2) a web meeting following the delivery of the interim deliverables, and (3) one face-to-face meeting to review and address the final deliverables as well as web meetings tied to the panel review and ACRP approval of other interim deliverables deemed appropriate.

The final deliverables will include: (1) the planning guide including an executive summary, (2) research gaps and work plan; (3) a final report documenting the entire research effort and results; (4) a Summary of Key Findings; (5) a Further Recommended Research Memo; and (6) a technical memo titled, “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”. 

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP.  The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.