EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

As of 2020, transport accounts for 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions, which is why the electrification of the mobility sector plays a key role in the battle against climate change. When it comes to air travel, Diesel powered Airport Ground Support Equipment vehicles (GSE vehicles) are one of the major sources of CO2 emissions. This is where Traktionssysteme Austria (TSA) comes into play. The Austrian company is one of the biggest manufacturers of electric motors for rail and bus transport and is eager to use its know-how and experience in the development of electric motors for the electrification of GSE vehicles.

Goal

The underlying goal of the project was to create a business plan for the electrification of ground support equipment vehicles in cooperation with TSA. In order to successfully enter the GSE-industry it was necessary to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the legal and competitive market environment as well as the specific technical requirements of the industry. Furthermore, the objective of the project was to select those GSE-vehicles that fit the profile of TSA and to start building relationships with both, airport ground handlers and vehicle manufacturers.

Methodology

As the GSE market is non-transparent and it also turned out to be difficult to obtain reliable market data through research databases, the primary source of information were in-depth interviews with industry experts. In the course of the project we conducted interviews with ground handling operators of five different airports including Vienna International Airport and Salzburg Airport. Furthermore, conversations were held with several major GSE manufacturers such as Goldhofer, Cobus or Vestergaard. They provided the project team with an insight into the industry from different perspectives and thereby allowed the team to gain a deeper understanding of the industry.

Results

Our market research has shown that the GSE market is a 13-billion-dollar industry, which is predicted to see a high growth over the next seven years with a forecasted compound annual growth rate of 6.7 percent until 2027. With this substantial growth, the GSE industry provides the necessary space for new players like TSA to successfully enter the market.

Furthermore, the demand for eco-friendly solutions in the industry is rising sharply as most major airports have committed themselves to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2030 and many government subsidies are linked to environmental requirements. Consequently, TSA with its decades of experience in the development of electric motors and its global company structure will be able to provide sustainable alternatives to those growing demands.

By intensifying existing relationships with GSE manufacturers and raising brand awareness through advertisement in trade journals and exhibiting at trade fairs like the inter-airport, TSA will be able to quickly increase its market shares and improve its competitive position.

Cooperation Partner

• Traktionssysteme Austria GmbH
  Brown-Boveri-Straße 1
  2351 Wiener Neudorf
  Austria
  www.tsa.at

Contact Person

• Dr. Florian Demmelmayr
  Head of technical sales – Road
  florian.demmelmayr@tsa.at

Student Team

• Alexander Bernleithner
  Stefan Doubek
  Clemens Gumpoldsberger
  Phillip Grandl
  Julian Pfeifer
  Stephan Wolfsberg

Project Manager

• Richard Olbrecht, M.Sc.

• Carola Wandres, M.Sc.