At the start, however, the idea had something to worry about: autonomy, recharge time, reliability … The sappers feared that this big toy was not up to par. “” We cannot afford to experiment in an emergency situation “Recalls some firefighters. But it was necessary to replace the old trucks, at the end of his life, and to bet again on the diesel was no longer possible.
Firefighters roll green
The barracks, Jürgen Wettlaufer, therefore pushed for an alternative ” more sustainable and turned to the future ». The manufacturer Rosenbauer arrived with its RT: a 490 horsepower, ergonomic monster, equipped with an autonomy extension operating with biodiesel. What reassure the most skeptical: even in the event of a long operation, impossible to fall into a battery harbor.
In fact, the daily newspaper of the firefighters has not changed … except better. On the Garching campus, vehicles travel on average 2.4 km to reach an intervention. With five to six calls per day, the battery is largely enough to cover the needs. The extension is only started for operations exceeding half an hour.
And above all, the difference is heard. “” We can finally chat between ourselves without screaming over the engine, and the radio passes nickel “Says a firefighter. The water pump caps at 75 decibels – the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner – when diesel vibrated the entire street. Non -negligible bonus: exhaust fumes have disappeared in 97 % of interventions.
The Rosenbauer RT does not only rely on silence. The truck has a tank of 1,600 liters of water and 120 liters of foam to attack the fire immediately, four electric Penta electric motors (including two for the traction, totaling 350 kW), a 100 kWh battery and a chassis designed for maneuverability: 2.35 meters wide, rear direction and 4.10 meters. A special version delivered to Hamburg can even cross 80 centimeters of water thanks to its chassis adjustable in height.
After twelve months, the results are clear and clear: the electric trucks have won the hearts of the firefighters! And the experience should go further with solar panels installed on the roof of the barracks to directly supply the batteries. “” Our experience proves that it works, and many services call us to find out how we do Summarizes Jürgen Wettlaufer. What give ideas to other cities, in Germany and elsewhere.
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