Six electric cargo towing vehicles for Schiphol Airport

WFS uses the Goldhofer Sherpa E6 vehicles to pull trailers with suitcases from the security checkpoint to the aircraft for more than 50 airlines at Amsterdam’s airport. WFS, a subsidiary of the SATS Group, says it operates four facilities in Schipol with an area of 17,500 square metres, including specially certified areas for the storage and transport of temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products.

Goldhofer develops and builds various vehicles for use at airports, such as aircraft tow tractors and also cargo tow tractors – increasingly with electric drives. Goldhofer’s electric aircraft tractors are already in use at Munich Airport, for example. The Sherpa E electric cargo towing vehicle has already been in operation at Stuttgart Airport for several years.

The Sherpa E6, as used by WFS in Amsterdam, is the variant with a vehicle weight of six tonnes. Alternatively, the Sherpa E4 and E8 are also available. The E6 is available with either one or two 40 kWh batteries. With one battery, a Sherpa E can tow up to 60 tonnes; with two batteries, it can tow up to 80 tonnes. The battery is charged with up to 50 or 70 kW.

With the order of further vehicles, WFS will be operating an all-electric fleet of freight tugs in Amsterdam by the end of the second quarter of 2025, as the company reports. However, the number of vehicles involved is not specified. As well as contributing to SATS’ and WFS’ ESG priorities, these new electric vehicles are also improving the working environment for our employees thanks to their low noise level and operating comfort,” says Stéphane Scholving, Managing Director, The Netherlands at WFS. “The improved tow hitch also improve safety and reduces the need for manual lifting.”

wfs.aero, goldhofer.com (technical data as PDF)