Excerpts from piercemfg.com:
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, announced it has secured a contract with the Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department in Arizona to place a Pierce® Volterra™ zero-emissions pumper with an Oshkosh patented parallel-electric drivetrain into service with the department’s busiest station, Station No. 2. This will be the third placement for Pierce, with others including the City of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department, and the City of Portland, Oregon Fire and Rescue. All locations represent vastly different climates, allowing Pierce to collect vehicle performance data for the Volterra electric fire truck in various environmental conditions.
Gilbert Fire and Rescue’s Volterra Electric Vehicle Configuration includes:
- Pierce Velocity® custom chassis, expanding continuity among Gilbert’s current Pierce fire apparatus fleet
- Seating capacity: 6
- GVWR: 42,000 lb
- TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension
- 500-gallon water tank
- 1500 gpm single stage pump
- Compartmentation: 150 cu ft plus ladder storage
- Hose capacity: 1000’ of 5” / 850’ of 2.5”
- Oshkosh patented parallel-electric drivetrain featuring an electro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission
- Zero-emissions operation when powered by the integrated onboard batteries, coupled with an internal combustion engine to provide continuous and uninterrupted power to the pumping system or drive system
- Exceptional operational range tailored to the fire department’s needs and duty cycle for full-shift operation
- Fire station-based, all-encompassing vehicle charging infrastructure offers a thorough, simple, and fast charging solution through – Pierce’s expert energy solutions provider.
In 2019, Gilbert launched an initiative to become the “City of the Future,” which includes carbon footprint reduction and fleet technologies and systems to improve efficiencies. Fleet electrification is an integral part of moving the city’s vision forward, in addition to multiple initiatives to explore how to make Gilbert a sustainable community for future decades.
In collaboration with Gilbert Fire and Rescue, Pierce will continue developing and evaluating the Pierce Volterra electric vehicle. As part of this development process, Gilbert’s arid, subtropical climate, intense heat during summer months, and high UV index will provide valuable exposure and insight to additional operational environments the electric vehicle must withstand.
thanks Martin
#1 by Mike C on October 22, 2022 - 8:55 AM
Exactly! I know the future appears to be headed towards electric fire apparatus but I’m not fully convinced on them. They are incredibly expensive! Some state you don’t have to pay for diesel! I understand that, but you have to pay for electric which in terms is MORE expensive to charge than it is to fill with diesel. Seems to be a step backwards if you ask me!
#2 by Crabbymilton on October 22, 2022 - 7:40 AM
Better yet, if they are so confident in the idea of BEV why do they have a CUMMINS engine in there? I know it’s for extended use but they sure downplay it.
#3 by Mike C on October 22, 2022 - 7:27 AM
If Pierce, REV, and Rosenbauer have such a high level of confidence in their electric fire engines, why are they all transporting them on diesel low boys to the trade shows?