LAFD Debuts First Electric Fire Engine in US
Los Angeles Fire department is planning to go electric starting this week! which will make it the first Fire department to use electric fire engines in the U.S. The fire department chose the Rosenbauer RTX to be their first operating electric firefighting vehicle. And it will operate from LAFD Station 82 in Hollywood.
On the outside, there’s not much difference between it and a regular gas-powered fire engine. All the new interesting technology innovations and gadgets will be housed inside the familiar red body.
The Rosenbauer RTX will take its power from two huge electric batteries. The designers chose to place them right in the middle of the truck’s body close to its center of gravity. Giving it more stability, especially on rough ground. The fire engine will benefit from an adjustable ground clearance, reaching as high as 19 inches, allowing it to cross up to three feet of floodwater according to the manufacturing company.
Electric power won’t be the Rosenbauer’s only supply, it will have a backup diesel-powered range extender that would be automatically activated when the main battery goes under 20%, this measure will give the firefighters six hours more operating time in addition to the original two hours.
Rosenbauer is not only about energy efficiency, the company is taking care of the operating crew as well. The interior is more spacious, after getting rid of the traditional engine tunnel, the additional space can be used as a command center or any other needed function.
The new console screen will give the crew full control over all functions in one place, the console is also linked to a mobile tablet that allows the same level of control from anywhere in a 300 feet radius around the truck.
The use of camera mirrors allowed the company to minimize the truck’s width, giving it easy access to narrower areas than any other regular fire engine.
The LAFD is clearly excited about this new development; Fire Chief Kristin Crowley praised for giving the firefighter a healthier environment to work in and allowing the fire department to participate in saving the environment.
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