Electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies has entered a partnership with Shoreline Aviation Inc., the FBO and airport management company at Marshfield Municipal Airport (KGHG) in Massachusetts to install the state’s first public access charging station for electric aircraft. The companies are also installing chargers for ground vehicles.
Local power company Eversource and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation [MassDOT] Aeronautics Division also assisted in completing the installation project, which includes two Level 3 fast chargers. One charger meant mainly for aircraft is inside the airport fence while the other is in the parking lot where drivers can access it for charging cars. There is also a Level 2 charger for ground vehicles.
The Beta-designed charging stations are part of a broad plan to move toward electric transport throughout Massachusetts. The company said its growing network of chargers comprises 12 active locations in states including Vermont, Georgia, and Arkansas with more than 55 additional stations under development.
“We’ve seen bikes, cars, trains, and nearly every other form of transportation go electric,” said Nate Ward, Beta’s head of charging network development. “Now aviation is beginning to make that shift, and charging infrastructure is a critical piece to making it a reality. We’re excited to be working with innovative partners like Shoreline Aviation, Eversource, and MassDOT, all of which have been forward-leaning in their support, making Massachusetts the next state to ready itself for the electric transportation future.”
Shoreline hosted an event on Friday to celebrate the opening of the charging station, which marks a step toward delivering a sustainable transportation future for Marshfield and the rest of the state, the companies said.
During the event, the station provided its first charge to Beta’s Alia electric aircraft, which the company flew to Marshfield from its flight test center in Plattsburgh, New York.
