29 August 2019

ACT set to have Australia’s first plug-in hybrid electric fire truck

| Ian Bushnell
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The Rosenbauer Concept Fire Truck. Photos: Supplied.

The ACT Government has joined with Austrian-based fire fighting equipment maker Rosenbauer to develop an Australian-first plug-in hybrid electric fire truck for ACT Fire & Rescue by 2022.

The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) will work with Rosenbauer to pioneer the engineering of the Concept Fire Truck to suit Australian fire services.

The Rosenbauer Concept Fire Truck technology offers a fully electric drive with a diesel range extender, capable of carrying an identical inventory to the current ACT Fire & Rescue fleet.

The Government says firefighter safety and comfort will be at the forefront of the design with better use of space and greater crew protection.

The vehicle will be ergonomically designed and include a walk-in, walk-out entry to support firefighters’ knees and backs as they move in and out of the vehicle.

Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman said the development of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Fire Truck was an important first step towards transitioning to a zero-emissions emergency vehicle fleet.

“The partnership between the ACT Government and Rosenbauer will engineer a fire truck that’s far more sustainable than our current fleet while being well designed for our firefighters’ needs,” he said.

“This is a substantial step that will help move the ACT closer to achieving a zero net greenhouse gas emissions target by 2045. It is another example of ground-breaking technology right here in Canberra, further cementing the ACT as a world leader in innovation and sustainability.

“Rosenbauer is one of the largest providers of firefighting technology and equipment in the world, and their expertise will help us bring forward new technologies to benefit our firefighters, our community and the environment.”

The transition to a single electric fire truck would cut diesel fuel consumption by about 185,000 litres and engine oil disposal by about 400 litres over a 10-year period.

The Government says it is on track to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in emissions on 1990 levels by 2020, and after electricity moves to 100 per cent renewable sources by 2020, the next biggest emitter, transport, will be the focus of Government action.

The partnership will help bring the technology to the market and is expected to lead to the first fully operational Plug-in Hybrid Electric Fire truck in the Asia-Pacific region by 2022.

The Government has already contracted Rosenbauer to supply a new urban pumper with a 25-metre ladder and rescue platform, and a new 44-metre aerial platform to replace the ageing ‘Bronto’, boosting ACT Fire and Rescue’s urban firefighting capabilities.

The firefighters’ union says they were blindsided by the announcement.

However, the announcement has been hosed down by the United Firefighters Union ACT, stating that the ACT Government did not consult with them.

Spokesperson Greg McConville said it is concerning that Government is prioritising the purchase of this particular apparatus when a number of other pressing resourcing issues have not been resolved.

“ACT firefighters and residents deserve detail about the Government’s proposal for this new electric fire truck,” Mr McConville said.

“We’ve had no opportunity to ask questions about this proposal, let alone have those questions answered. Firefighters should be at the centre of any discussion about new apparatus, and to date, we have no detail.”

Mr McConville said the union only became aware of the partnership with Rosenbauer to develop and procure the vehicle through the media yesterday (28 August).

“We don’t yet have procedures in place for effectively extinguishing batteries in electric cars,” he said. “If the ACT Government were serious about acting on climate change it would address those basics before adopting electric engine technology in a suppression vehicle.”

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Capital Retro8:56 am 31 Aug 19

Actually, electric fire engines are no longer a concept as they are available right now. This model would complement the tram perfectly.

https://youtu.be/pV2yKnWDoYg

The prototype is a Toyota Camry Hybrid with a ladder on the roof rack and an extinguisher in the boot.

Funny I would have thought it would have more in common with the hybrid diesel buses that have been in Europe for well over 10 years now and have become the norm for the last 5.

Or maybe even the hybrid trucks that they have had for about 5 years now and are starting to become the norm too. But that is Europe where they are a lot more progressive than Australia where we are 10 years behind Europe.

Capital Retro8:45 am 31 Aug 19

Europe is planning to ban diesel so the days of commercial hybrids are numbered.

During the 2003 Canberra firestorm power was cut to several suburbs and the outage affected Emergency Services headquarters. Back-up power diesel generators failed to produce enough power due to air intake filters clogging up.
In a similar scenario with electricity down, how will a hybrid electric fire struck be recharged?

HiddenDragon5:57 pm 30 Aug 19

“The Government has already contracted Rosenbauer to supply a new urban pumper with a 25-metre ladder and rescue platform, and a new 44-metre aerial platform to replace the ageing ‘Bronto’, boosting ACT Fire and Rescue’s urban firefighting capabilities.”

With the number of apartment towers built, and under construction in Canberra, this capability should surely be a priority for significant expansion, ahead of virtue-signalling.

wildturkeycanoe3:58 pm 30 Aug 19

This is still only a concept. How much of our tax dollars are going to be spent making it a viable piece of equipment? You do know that during fires, power generally goes out so recharging may not be possible. As for the inboard diesel engine to recharge the lowly 30 minutes of range it has, how much diesel will that use up and can it run pumps while charging? I can just see them now, hoses going limp as the fire gets closer, while they argue “Do we pump water or charge the batteries to escape?”.

No mention of a price anywhere. I know to some thats a mundane sort of thing, especially to our Assembly.

But the trouble is that in another life I was a bean counter and although a lot of people don’t give a hoot about expenses , eventually someone has to account for it. Well mainly everybody. Politicians usually move interstate.

Capital Retro11:13 am 30 Aug 19

Ironically, it will probably be used exclusively for attending to extinguishing fires in other electric vehicles that regularly catch fire.

Batteries don’t work in extreme cold, ever tried to start your car when really cold it doen’t sound good.
If we get a blizzard or freezing event we’re screwed.

Also what do batteries do in extreme heat? I can’t imagine wanting to take a litithim battery into a forrest fire, let alone relying on it.

Most fire engines would be parked inside the station so wouldn’t have much of an issue with the outside temperature. Besides I would place a large bet the batteries will be lithium which are much better in the cold than lead acid like in a car.

Capital Retro1:45 pm 29 Aug 19

“The transition to a single electric fire truck would cut diesel fuel consumption by about 185,000 litres and engine oil disposal by about 400 litres over a 10-year period.”

So, how much do the replacement batteries cost in how many years and add the high cost of renewable energy.

I think the unions have got it right. It’s an incredibly costly exercise in virtue signalling.

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