The number of passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs) are growing worldwide. Konrad Gruber, head of sales at Bulmor airground, explains these passengers include wheelchair users and elderly passengers that have difficulty walking longer distances at the airport and climbing passenger stairs.
To make air travel easier and more convenient for PRMs, Bulmor developed its SideBull passenger vehicle. The concept was originally developed with Lufthansa LEOS in 2002 to provide a solution that was safer and faster than conventional scissor lift trucks.
Since that initial concept, officials at Bulmor have electrified the vehicle, launching the e-SideBull in 2020 after electrifying the smaller FrontBull unit in 2017.
“We have manufactured electric lift trucks for almost 35 years for different industry sectors,” Gruber says. “Until approximately 2019, there was no significant request for electric trucks, but a stronger interest for diesel-powered airport boarding vehicles. However, due to enormous pressure for decarbonization, it was foreseeable that there would be higher demand for fully electric-powered equipment.”
The e-SideBull is 100-percent electric – not just the drive system, but also air conditioning and heating for the passenger cabin, Gruber notes.
“We use lithium LFP batteries, which are being considered as the safest battery technology currently on the market,” he adds.
In the European market, Bulmor utilizes onboard chargers. This allows customers to use a standard CEE 400V socket without further infrastructure requirements.
“Outside of Europe, we work with external chargers and solutions must b adopted to the local market and electric infrastructure available,” Gruber says.
The e-SideBull is available in two different lift heights. Bulmor’s XLe model provides a lift height of 5,700 mm and is capable of servicing all conventional aircraft. The XXLe version offers a lift height of 8,100 mm and can cover all aircraft, including the A380UD.
Bulmor officials notes the e-SideBull has several features that make the vehicle safe, efficient and passenger friendly.
“The passenger cabin can be fully lowered to ground level alongside the chassis. This speeds up the entire boarding procedure for a group of PRMs,” Gruber says. “It is no longer necessary to repeatedly raise or lower a tail lift platform as in conventional scissor lift trucks. The design of the vehicle ensures quick handling during peak times to meet the short turnaround times of low fair airlines.”
According to Gruber, the vehicle’s chassis is rugged enough that stabilizers are not necessary. He says this can offer time savings up to 70 percent and simplifies the docking procedure for the operator.
“The SideBull’s robust, torsion-resistant sideloader chassis allows it to be used in winds up to 100 km per hour without any additional stabilizers,” Gruber says.
The e-SideBull also offers enhanced maneuverability and usability. Because the e-SideBull does not have separate driver’s cabin, it is shorter than conventional scissor lift vehicles.
“The sideloader steering system enables a steering angle of almost 90 degrees. The vehicle can almost fully rotate around its rear axle and needs only half the turning radius of ordinary scissor lift trucks,” Gruber says. “The SideBull needs less space, is more agile and therefore easier to maneuver when space is limited.”
What’s more, the vehicle is designed and built in accordance with the EU Machinery Directive, EN1915 1-4 as well as EN12312-14 and has undergone an EC type examination by the independent testing and certification body DGUV, ensuring full compliance with all necessary safety standards.
According to Bulmor officials, the SideBull is a result of a continuous improvement process over the past 20 years, which has incorporated feedback of operators, airports, airlines and end-users.
Additional features for the unit include a fully automatic front platform alignment system and time-programmed heating start to warm the passenger cabin at a specific time.
“Depending on the chosen cabin layout from the customer, it can transport up to 15 passengers,” Gruber adds.
Currently the SideBull is in use at numerous international hubs in addition to mid-size and small airports. Company officials point out the vehicle is assisting with PRM services at seven of the 10 busiest airports in Europe.
With higher pressure for short turnaround times, Bulmor officials encourage users to consider the handling speed when specifying ambulifts in order to avoid unnecessary delays.
“Beside higher efficiency and lower total handling costs for the operating company, customers’ travel experiences are our most important gal to achieve,” Gruber says. “Additional benefits of our fully electric trucks beside the lower lifecycle costs and avoidance of CO2 emission, is a lower noise level with reduced body vibration as well as better air quality for the operators and airport staff.”
“In Nordic countries with rougher winter operation conditions, we see a higher importance and appreciation for robust built, long-lasting trucks and convenience features such as our programmable cabin heating start,” he adds.
Bulmor works with customers and trains local airport maintenance technicians on how to handle repairs and preventative maintenance (PM) for the units. All of Bulmor’s trucks are equipped with remote assistance systems to provide quick failure diagnostic support.
