We have electric cars and trucks, and soon there will be more zero-emission pickups. And now it’s time for an electrified fire truck.
The Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) will be the first firefighting department in North America to purchase a pre-series vehicle based on Rosenbauer’s Concept Fire Truck (CFT). The hybrid fire engine from the Austrian company Rosenbauer is scheduled for the delivery in the first quarter of 2021 and will be implemented in a comprehensive test operation.
The vehicle based on the CFT will have two rechargeable batteries with a charge capacity of 100-kilowatt hours, enabling a purely electric operation for around two hours. In case of an emergency, there is an on-board diesel generator, which can be activated for extended operations.
The LAFD is planning to equip the station that houses the electric engine with rapid-charging technology so that the fire engine is always ready for operation. The electric fire truck will be adapted to the specific needs of the LAFD and will also meet the safety standards set by the United States National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). It is already known that the fire truck will be available to Fire Station 82 located in Hollywood.
At the first demonstrations last December, in addition to the driving characteristics and safety, the ergonomics and high functionality of the electric fire truck were particularly impressive.
“The future fire truck is fundamentally different from the vehicles which are in service at the fire stations today. It is multi-functional, fully connected, and its flexible interior can be used as a fully-featured command center. Its floor can be lowered, facilitating minimum boarding and working levels. Electric engines reduce noise and pollution,” Says Dieter Siegel, CEO of Rosenbauer International.
“The electric fire engine is an innovative tool that will help reduce noise and harmful diesel emissions while providing a flexible tool for firefighting and rescue operations from a technologically advanced platform. We are looking forward to evaluating it in a real-world environment once it hits the streets of Hollywood next year,” said LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas.
The LAFD hasn’t confirmed yet how much the vehicle will cost.
