Linde electric tow tractors working at London's Heathrow Airport

British Airways (BA) has acquired 150 new Linde P 250 electric tow tractors to enhance its operations when it moves to Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport.

The airline had very specific requirements that were met by Linde Material Handling South East.

BA general manager Colin McWilliam says the real challenge was finding a model powerful enough to navigate inclines around Terminal 5 but also environmentally friendly.

Linde sales director David Bunting says the tow tractors had to maintain a 10mph (16km/h) minimum speed around the terminal which had gradients over 5%, while towing 4,700kg (10,362lb) loads.

The P 250 model was modified to BA's requirements by "incorporating a twin-drive axle from their existing range, each with 12kW power output". A 960 Ah copper stretch metal battery with 25% more energy and longer operating life than a conventional battery was also fitted.

A prototype of the modified P 250 was tested at Millbrook and on site at Terminal 5.

The order consists of 127 long wheelbase P 250s and 23 P 250s with a carrying platform for larger and more awkward baggage shapes. So far 25 units have been delivered with the rest scheduled to arrive by March 2008.

The baggage tugs are built at Linde Material Handling Ltd's Basingstoke plant.