Pierce Manufacturing and Oshkosh Airport Products have introduced the Volterra platform of electric vehicles for the fire and emergency market, with the first municipal truck already in service with the City of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department’s Station 8.
In recent years, municipalities and airports worldwide have made green initiatives an integral priority, compelling fire departments to seek environmentally conscious fire apparatus that reduce emissions, minimize fuel consumption and produce less noise.
‘Category-leading innovations, grounded with direct input from our customers, is a hallmark of each of the brands in the Oshkosh Fire & Emergency Segment. It’s all about serving the needs of first responders,’ said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of Fire & Emergency. ‘Our electric vehicles designed around Oshkosh proprietary and patented technology will provide the environmental benefits fire departments request, without having to compromise on the leading-edge operational performance, functionality, safety attributes, customization, and the traditional configurations and styling customers expect from our fire apparatus.’
Pierce Manufacturing – Volterra platform of electric vehicles
The first Pierce Volterra zero-emissions pumper has been placed in service with the City of Madison Fire Department, making this the first electric fire truck in service in North America. The Volterra pumper is serving front-line duty at Station 8, the City of Madison’s busiest fire station. The department is led by Fire Chief Steven Davis and is made up of 14 fire stations serving an area of nearly 100 square miles and a population of over 250,000.
‘The City of Madison is committed to many sustainability initiatives allowing us to meet our needs without compromising those of future generations,’ said Chief Davis. ‘Pierce’s Volterra electric pumper allows us to keep an environmentally conscious focus on reducing emissions while maintaining our traditional pumper configuration without impacting our operational procedures. We are eager to lead change by responsibly supporting our environment together with achieving our critical daily missions.’
City of Madison’s Volterra electric vehicle configuration:
- Enforcer custom chassis
- Expanded occupant space and visibility
- Seating capacity: 6
- GVWR: 42,000lb
- TAK-4 Independent Front Suspension
- 1,500gpm single stage pump
- 500-gallon water tank
- Compartmentation: 150ft3 plus ladder storage
- Hose capacity: 1000ft of 5in / 850ft of 2.5in
- 155kW hour battery pack to meet the City of Madison’s daily duty cycle
Volterra Electric Vehicle Operation:
- An Oshkosh patented parallel-electric drivetrain featuring an electro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission allows zero-emissions operation when powered by the integrated onboard batteries, and can be coupled to the 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 provided by an established nationwide energy supplier offers a thorough, simple and fast charging solution.
In partnership with the City of Madison Fire Department, Pierce will continue the final development, evaluation and on-highway certification process for the Pierce Volterra electric vehicle.
Oshkosh Airport Products – Volterra platform of electric vehicles
The Striker Volterra performance hybrid Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle is also making its debut at airports across the country. Based on Oshkosh proprietary technology, the new Striker Volterra is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that has been developed to meet the growing emergency response and environmentally conscious needs among airports of all sizes.
Available on the 4×4 and 6×6 chassis platforms, the Striker Volterra performance hybrid delivers unmatched chassis performance, advanced safety systems, innovative fire suppression technology, and unsurpassed reliability and durability.
Striker Volterra 6×6 vehicle configuration:
- Modular cab design:
Centre-steer driving position
Industry-leading forward visibility
Ergonomic control placement
Seating capacity: 5
- TAK-4 all-wheel independent suspension
- 50ft (15.2m) Snozzle HRET with Oshkosh K-Factor piercing tip alignment system
- 3,170-gallon (12,000 -litre) water tank
- 444-gallon (1,680-litre) foam tank
- 2000gpm (7,570lpm) water pump
- 550lb (225kg) dry chemical powder system
- Scania DC13 engine
- Oshkosh power divider
Striker Volterra hybrid electric vehicle operation:
- An Oshkosh patented hybrid-electric drivetrain featuring an electro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission allows zero-emissions operation when powered by the integrated onboard batteries, and can be coupled to the internal combustion engine to provide continuous and uninterrupted power to the pumping system or drive system.
- Faster acceleration: setting a new standard for performance, the Striker Volterra is capable of achieving 28% improved acceleration when fully loaded, resulting in a quickened response time.
- Idle reduction for up to one hour of zero-emissions standby using onboard energy storage.
- Zero-emission driving during entry and exit of the fire station using onboard energy storage.
- Available Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) options for further electric vehicle driving capabilities.
- Custom-engineered and extensively tested to deliver rapid response while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint, the new Striker Volterra performance hybrid is fully compliant to NFPA 414 and ICAO standards while being certified to off-highway EPA and EU regulations.
During the next several months, the Striker Volterra performance hybrid will be showcased at airports across the United States, giving firefighters the opportunity to experience first-hand the revolutionary Volterra technology.
‘Oshkosh has been developing electric drives and vehicles for over 25 years, which will continue to be a critical part of our Fire & Emergency Segment’s vision for a more sustainable future,’ said Johnson. ‘Our Volterra platform of electric vehicles reduces emissions, supports lowering total cost of ownership, and increases performance for first responders. We look forward to introducing the vehicles to fire departments around the world and will closely monitor operator feedback and opportunities for further vehicle enhancements.’
To learn more about Pierce Manufacturing or Oshkosh Airport Products, and the revolutionary Pierce Volterra platform of electric vehicles, visit www.piercemfg.com or www.oshkoshairport.com
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