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LYONS, SD. (February 10, 2020) ‒ The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is the first fire service in North America to purchase a pre-series vehicle based on the Concept Fire Truck (CFT). The electric fire truck from Rosenbauer will be delivered before the end of the year and put into practice as part of a comprehensive test operation in 2021. In addition to its driving characteristics and safety features, the truck made an impression with its ergonomics and high functionality during the initial demonstrations last December. A sworn workforce of around 3,500 makes the LAFD one of the largest fire services in the US. It operates a fleet of almost of 1,300 vehicles and responded to approximately 500,000 emergency calls last year, including 4,100 structure fires. The LAFD and the City of Los Angeles are setting a clear example for sustainability and climate protection with the decision to use CFT technology.
The pre-series vehicle based on the CFT will have two batteries with a charge capacity of 100 kilowatt hours. This enables fully electric operation for roughly two hours and covers around 90% of all applications. A 200-kilowatt range extender is integrated for longer application times. The fire truck will be adjusted to meet the needs of the LAFD in terms of usage and loading, without limiting the flexible vehicle architecture in the process, and is designed to meet all standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
“I am excited that we are the first Department in North America to order this cutting-edge fire engine,” said LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas. “The electric fire engine is an innovative tool that will help reduce noise, harmful diesel emissions, and provide 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.”
“Although the global firefighting market is comparatively small, there are vast differences between the individual geographies. In the past, various traditions and operational tactics have made it difficult to succeed in North America with what might be a very European-looking product. This is why I am particularly delighted to receive the order from the Los Angeles Fire Department, which really is a fantastic vote of confidence,” says John Slawson, CEO of Rosenbauer America. “Together, we will develop a production-ready fire truck that meets all the safety standards of the NFPA and can seamlessly be brought into real operation further down the line.” Velocity Fire Equipment is Rosenbauer’s exclusive dealer for sales and service in southern California, Arizona, and southern Nevada. Velocity has received many fire departments’ requests for this new and exciting technology from Rosenbauer. The future is here!
Global market for new CFT technology estimated at around 3,200 vehicles by 2030
Rosenbauer’s Concept Fire Truck was first presented to the public in 2016. As a fire truck of the future, it anticipates major mega-trends such as climate change, demographic change, and urbanization, as well as the challenges that these entail for fire departments. The use of electric drives enables a completely new kind of vehicle architecture that is 100% tailored to these future scenarios and sets new benchmarks in terms of functionality and ergonomics. The main application area for innovative CFT technology at the moment is municipal firefighting vehicles, but it will also be applied to other types of vehicles further down the line.
Rosenbauer estimates that the number of vehicles with technology similar to CFT will rise to around 3,200 by 2030; up to 400 such vehicles could already be in service in Northern America by 2025.
Rosenbauer is the world’s leading manufacturer of firefighting vehicles and equipment. In North America, Rosenbauer America incorporates the international strength and innovation of a global company with top American manufacturing firms to offer a full line of custom and commercial pumpers, rescues, tankers, and aerials. For more information, please visit the company’s website at rosenbaueramerica.com.
