Australia’s first plug-in hybrid fire truck unveiled

The Australian Capital Territory has shown off its latest weapon for fighting fire: a state-of-the-art fire truck with plug-in hybrid technology.

Revealed this week by the ACT Emergency Services Agency, the fire truck primarily uses battery power, and is said to have been “redesigned from the ground up”.

A diesel range extender allows the fire truck to continue when its batteries are depleted.

While the exact driving range hasn’t been disclosed, the ACT Emergency Service Agency claims the vehicle can run off its batteries continuously for two hours, or up to six hours with the diesel generator.

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The emergency services agency claims the plug-in hybrid results in a “reduction in noise, vibration, and CO2 emissions, [while also] improving safety for firefighters”.

The truck also features digital cameras in lieu of side mirrors, a tight turning circle for manoeuvring in tricky areas, and a street-level door, which is said to reduce the fall risk to firefighters wearing heavy equipment.

Costing $1.5 million – approximately 50 per cent more than a conventional fire truck – the appliance also has the ability to launch a thermal-imaging drone from its roof, which can check the immediate area for hot spots.

The vehicle has a 1500-litre water tank, but can pump 3500 litres of water per minute using its electric pump, when connected to a water source.

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“The new Austrian-built, hybrid-electric fire pumper is the first right-hand drive machine of its type in the southern hemisphere. Thanks to its four wheel steering and all-wheel drive it can even crab walk sideways to get around traffic jam,” ACT Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Ratternbury said in the written statement.

“This is a great step towards getting more zero emissions heavy vehicles out on our roads to cut our emissions.”

The fire truck will be stationed at West Belconnen in Canberra, before being relocated to a new fire station in Acton.

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