TBL 180 Towbarless Tractor (Diesel / Hybrid / Electric)

The TBL 180 covers the Fokker 70 and A319 at the lower end through to the Boeing 767 and Airbus A300 at the upper end, making it the natural choice for airports whose traffic is dominated by A320-family and B737 aircraft with occasional wide-body movements. Like the rest of the TBL range, it lifts the nosegear directly into a cradle — no towbar, no type-specific adapter — and can engage the aircraft while the passenger boarding bridge remains connected, a significant operational advantage at busy single-aisle gates. Three powertrain options are available. The diesel variant runs a four-cylinder Stage 5 engine producing 95 kW through a DANA-Spicer T12000 torque-converter transmission. The hybrid-electric pairs a 100 kW AC motor with a 22 kW diesel range extender and a 48 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. A full-electric option draws from the same 48 kWh pack via an onboard 380 V three-phase charger with no combustion fallback. The TBL 180 is notably lighter than the TBL 190 — 8,250 kg diesel, 9,700 kg electric — which reduces apron loading and energy consumption per cycle. Ground clearance of 130 mm and pneumatic front tyres give it a stable ride across apron surfaces. The operator cabin supports all-round visibility, and the towbarless cradle system can dock while the boarding bridge remains connected, directly protecting gate turnaround time at high-cycle single-aisle operations.