Choosing the correct voltage is one of the most important decisions you'll make when specifying ground support equipment batteries. GSE battery systems need to deliver sufficient power but also need to fit into the space available within the equipment and be compatible with operating cycles and charging requirements, which is why higher voltage isn’t always more efficient.
Voltage matters because higher voltage can mean GSE can deliver a given amount of power with lower current, helping manage thermal demands, electricity losses, and conductor sizing in higher-power applications. However, the most suitable voltage also depends on the specific equipment, motor and control systems, your charging infrastructure, and safety aspects, so the system needs to be considered as a whole rather than choosing battery voltages in isolation.
Lithion supports GSE battery systems across a range of potential voltages, and although the appropriate specification will vary between applications, common requirements are as follows:
As we’ve touched on, the primary consideration is the equipment's power requirement. A battery supplying higher power at lower voltage needs to deliver more current, which can impact cabling, connectors, and other components.
Duty cycles are also relevant because aircraft tugs, baggage tractors, GPUs, and other GSE might incorporate very different usage patterns. This might depend on whether they are in continuous operation, have extended idle periods, or have limited charging windows each day.
Identifying when peak power is required, for how long, and how often each piece of GSE will be charged helps our engineers determine the correct combination of voltage, capacity, and power output. This is particularly important for preventing common GSE battery failures, such as those caused by a battery pack that doesn’t fit within the available space, isn’t compatible with thermal management requirements or charging infrastructure, or simply doesn’t deliver sufficient power.
Lithion’s custom GSE battery systems are, therefore, designed around each intended application, ensuring that performance, operating conditions, and integration requirements are all considered from the start. Our proprietary Battery Management System (BMS) technology can also be customized to suit each client and application, helping support safe and reliable operation through ongoing monitoring of key battery performance parameters.
Why Higher Voltages Aren’t Always Better for GSE Applications
Higher voltage battery systems can offer advantages for GSE with substantial power demands, because they can deliver the requisite power at lower current. However, increasing voltage also impacts the wider electrical architecture, which means this isn’t always a case of selecting the highest possible voltage.
Batteries need to be compatible with the motor, inverter, charger, controls, cabling, connectors, and safety systems used by the GSE. Installation requirements and the physical capacity for the battery to be installed are also essential considerations, especially where existing GSE is being retrofitted.
This is why we recommend that voltage selection be part of a wider battery specification process, rather than being treated as a standalone decision.
There isn’t a single voltage that will be appropriate for every GSE application. A compact utility vehicle might have considerably different requirements from a high-power aircraft tug or a ground power unit, even if all are being electrified as part of the same project.
Lithion’s engineers can develop custom lithium-ion battery systems across a broad voltage range, with support available for systems from 12V through to 1500V, alongside proven off-the-shelf platforms.
We consider factors such as power requirements, operating cycles, the available installation space, charging infrastructure, and electrical compatibility as part of the design process. This approach ensures that voltage and other battery specifications are developed around the equipment, without expecting every GSE application to conform to a standardized battery configuration.
Clients can learn more about electric retrofit conversion kits for GSE as an alternative method of electrifying equipment by contacting our engineering teams, who can assist from feasibility and design phases through to prototyping, validation, integration, and production.