b'SPECIAL 44 MCI SPECIAL REPORT PASSENGER TRANSPORTREPORTInductive ChargingFACTS&FIGURESfor Electric ShuttlesProject: Electric Bus Service BY KRISTEN RINDFLEISCHLocation: Kansas City Intl Airport With economy parking locatedprevious concerns about range. Based Route: Shuttling passengers between terminal & remoteabout two miles from itson the many advantages and a positive economy parking lot main campus, Kansas Citytrack record with its initial electric shuttle Equipment: K7M electric buses; in-ground inductive chargersInternational Airport (MCI) has always triedvehicles, MCI is transitioning to an all-Bus Manufacturer: BYD North America to have leading-edge buses to shuttleelectric fleet as its other buses age out. Charging Pads: InductEV (formerly Momentum Dynamics) passengers to and from the terminal. ItsIn 2017, MCI was the first U.S. airport Costs: $577,000 for inductive charging system (includingcurrently making a major step forward into integrate fully electric shuttles for labor); $585,000 to retrofit 7 current buses for inductivethat effort by transitioning to all electricpassenger service. It embraced the green charging (future buses will come with system alreadybuses and a wireless charging system.technology by purchasing four 30-foot installed); $220,000 for plug-in charger infrastructure; local utility covered expenses to bring in new feed from nearby sub- Currently, MCIs fleet for economyelectric coaches from BYD North America, station, install transformer, etc. parking has seven electric buses andcustom built with luggage racks and other Funding: Airport revenue; U.S. Dept. of Energy grant24 that run on compressed naturalfeatures specifically for airport service. Timeline: Airport purchased 4 electric shuttles in 2017,gas. Airport personnel note that theEach K7M model seats 20 passengers, added 3 more in 2020, then 7 more in 2022 for delivery infully electric buses cost less to operatehas a range of up to 150 miles and can be 2024. Inductive charging pads installed in 2023. because there are no expenses for fuel,fully charged in two and one-half to three Key Benefits: Fewer emissions & more energy efficient;oil and transmission fluid. In addition,hours. In 2020, three additional electric less repair/maintenance; lower operating costs; wirelessthe electric vehicles are more energy- buses were added to MCIs evolving fleet. charging eliminates previous concerns about range; quiet,efficient, produce fewer emissions andLate last year, the Kansas City Aviation fume-free ride for customers require less repair/maintenance workDepartment literally doubled down on Of Note: MCI was first U.S. airport to integrate fully electriccompared to buses with diesel engines.its strategy and purchased seven more buses for passenger service; likely first airport in the world toNew wireless charging also eliminateselectric buses for about $4.8 million. use inductive charging for shuttlesMay | June 2023AirportImprovement.com'