40 ENVIRONMENTAL October 2026 AirportImprovement.com BFI King County International Airport- Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle has amassed a $4.1 million fleet of hybrid electric vehicles in its ongoing mission to become carbon neutral by 2030. Primary purchases include a $2.8 million Oshkosh Striker Volterra hybrid electric firetruck last year, and an R4 Air electric-powered sweeper from Global Environmental Products for about $804,000 in 2024. With those additions, BFI became the first airport in the United States to own a hybrid electric aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, and the first with an electric- powered runway sweeper, notes Airport Director John Parrott. The airport also bought six Ford F-150 Lightning hybrid electric pickup trucks for a total of $450,000 and two eL XD light- duty landscaping trucks built by Global Electric Motorcars for a total of nearly $77,350. All were purchased in 2024 and 2025. General airport revenue from user fees paid for the lion’s share of these acquisitions, but a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) covered the $500,000 cost difference between the electric sweeper and a less expensive conventional counterpart. The grant also provided $350,000 to update electrical infrastructure and install 18 battery charging stations for the vehicle maintenance shop. Beyond its equipment purchases, the airport spent about $15,000 to upgrade electrical infrastructure—including a Level 2 charging station—at its ARFF station. The airport’s multimillion-dollar investments support the Strategic Climate Action Plan for King County, which owns Electric Vehicles Amp Up Carbon Neutrality Efforts at King County Int’l FACTS&FIGURES Project: Hybrid Electric Vehicles Location: King County Int’l Airport-Boeing Field, in Seattle Key Benefits: Reduced emissions; supporting goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 Approx. Cost: $4.1 million Funding: General airport revenue from user fees; $500,000 state grant to defray sweeper purchase Consultants: WSP; King Co. Division of Fleet Services Timeline: 2024-2025 Electric Vehicles: Striker Volterra hybrid electric firetruck, by Oshkosh Airport Products ($2.8 million); R4 Air electric- powered sweeper, by Global Environmental Products (roughly $804,000); 6 Ford F-150 Lightning hybrid electric pickup trucks ($450,000); 2 eL XD light-duty landscaping trucks, by Global Electric Motorcars (nearly $77,350) Infrastructure for Maintenance Shop: Electrical upgrades; 18 charging stations for maintenance shop Approx. Cost: $350,000 Funding: State grant Infrastructure for Fire Station: Electrical power upgrade; Level II charging station Cost: $15,000 Funding: General airport revenue from user fees Third-Party Certification: Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program BY KEN WYSOCKY JOHN PARROTT
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.