Municipal Electric Line-Up From Rosenbauer At Interschutz 2022 Event

Taking responsibility is at the heart of Rosenbauer’s future success. They will change the world of firefighting in a sustainable way. They live sustainability in all aspects and are the first point of contact for decision-makers and opinion makers in the firefighting sector.

Rosenbauer focus on pioneering spirit, innovation, and customer orientation. They recognize and understand the current trends and the needs of their customers and offer the appropriate solutions with the best price-performance ratio.

They take responsibility – even for the whole industry. Therefore, it was a matter of course for them to participate at Interschutz 2022, in Hanover, Germany and in order to educate, advice and show the firefighting industry where Rosenbauer’s journey is headed.

Rosenbauer City

With their Rosenbauer City at Interschutz, the company has created the contact point for users, decision-makers

With their Rosenbauer City at Interschutz, the company has created the contact point for users, decision-makers, and interested parties. The city functioned as a home – everyone was welcome. They have greeted thousands of visitors, taught them, advised them, and inspired them with their products.

E-mobility – A clear commitment

The interior of Rosenbauer’s trade fair stand was a clear statement: they are committed to e-mobility in the firefighting industry. The highlight was certainly their PANTHER electric, which shone from the highlight stage together with their RT (Revolutionary Technology).

The highlight products were flanked by a municipal e-lineup. In their Electric Fire Station, they had four electrified vehicles on display, which are typically stationed in a municipal fire station:

• 2x electric rescue firefighting group vehicles
• 1x electric aerial ladder
• 1 x electric logistics vehicle

These vehicles are presented in detail in this article, with their special features discussed.

Rosenbauer’s Municipal Electric Line-Up

Rosenbauer’s Municipal Electric Line-Up at Interschutz 2022 in Hanover consisted of:

• RT
• AT electric
• L32A-XS electric
• GW-L electric

The RT is completely developed in-house at Rosenbauer: extinguishing technology of course, but also the electric drive technology, with purchased and integrated components from Volvo Penta. Overall, the RT presents itself as a highly integrated and complex vehicle. As the conceptually integrated chassis comes from Rosenbauer, they refer to it as a ‘custom chassis’.

The remaining three products differ significantly from this. They show the traditional way of building fire fighting vehicles: putting a firefighting superstructure on a purchased OEM chassis (commercial chassis).

RT – Revolutionary Technology

The e-drive is the enabler that makes this unique architecture of the vehicle possible

The RT is the flagship of Rosenbauer’s municipal e-fleet. This is not only due to the electric drive, but above all, due to the overall revolutionary vehicle architecture, which is tailor-made to meet the requirements of the firefighting sector. This revolutionary, holistic approach is reflected in its ergonomics, interior concept, digital operation, connectivity and, last, but not least, its performance, maneuverability, and compactness.

The e-drive is the enabler that makes this unique architecture of the vehicle possible. The technology generates levels of freedom that they can convert into customer benefits in the best possible way with their in-house development. In the development of the drive solution, they entered into a strategic partnership with Volvo Penta and thus, use the drive technology from Volvo Trucks that has been proven in series production vehicles.

Intensive test regiment

The series-ready RT has undergone an intensive test regiment. So, after 10 years of developing this product, they can look back on more than 100,000 km of driving and 10,000 hours of operation. The RT is a vehicle that has undergone the most intensive testing program to date, with EU homologation as a logical consequence.

This means that the RT can now be offered to all interested customers on the market. Also, the first version of the RT developed according to the US NFPA requirements has already been delivered to the customer - Los Angeles City Fire Department in April 2022.

Characteristic product features of RT

The compact dimensions of 2,350 mm width, 2,900 mm height, and 7,300 mm length, together with the optionally available rear-axle steering, ensure excellent maneuverability in urban environments with a turning circle of 13.5 m. But its performance is also impressive, because with torque from the bottom up ‘the vehicle wins every run from the traffic lights’.

A highly compact and efficient ‘electric back-up generator’ permanently installed in the vehicle ensures that the high-voltage batteries in the vehicle can be electrically charged at any time and that the extinguishing technology in the vehicle can be permanently operated. The vehicle can be equipped with up to two high-voltage batteries with a nominal storage capacity of 132 kWh, giving a purely electric range of up to 100 km.

Permanent all-wheel drive

The permanent all-wheel drive is provided by a propulsion engine on both the front and rear axles

The permanent all-wheel drive is provided by a propulsion engine on both the front and rear axles, so that the vehicle combines full traction and off-road capabilities. The extinguishing technology can be driven purely electrically for up to 1 hour in the version of the vehicle with 2 batteries or for up to 5 hours powered by the electric back-up generator. The requirements of EN1846 are therefore clearly exceeded.

The chassis is equipped with independent suspension and a modern electronic braking system with ABS and ESP. One of the special features of the chassis design is that, in addition to the extremely agile driving feel similar to that of a passenger car, it also has a height-adjustable chassis that can be lowered at the operational site or raised to an off-road level when off from the road.

Berlin Fire Department successfully tests the RT

One of Rosenbauer’s lead customers is the Berlin Fire Department, which has now successfully tested the RT – referred to by the Berlin Fire Department as the eHLF in the fleet – in real-world operations over a period of 13 months with around 1,400 operations. The energy concept of the RT has proven itself in that 90% of the missions could be completed purely electrically.

The purely electrical duration of the operation is, of course, highly dependent on the type of operation – whether it is a technical operation or a fire operation, for example. It has been shown that on average an electrical operating time of approx. 60-90 minutes is realistic.

The longest operation with the eLHF of the Berlin Fire Department lasted more than 4 hours. The electric back-up generator was also active there. Thanks to its automatic activation and problem-free operation, the vehicle proved its continuous operational capability.

Main facts of the vehicle on display include:

• Highly compact vehicle dimensions
• Rear-axle steering (all-wheel steering) for optimized maneuverability (up to only 13.5 m diameter with all-wheel steering)
• Diesel-powered electric back-up generator
• 2x high-voltage batteries with a total of 132 kWh nominal capacity
• Permanent 4×4 all-wheel drive
• Purely electrical range of up to 100 km
• Fully electric pump operation up to 1 hr
• Electronic braking system (with ABS and ESP)
• Height-adjustable air suspension chassis (underaxle clearance 175 – 250 – 350 mm)

AT electric – fully-electric Advanced Technology

The AT electric, as exhibited at Interschutz 2022, is based on a Volvo FE electric series chassis

The AT electric stands for familiar technology: on the one hand, it is built on a series chassis, and on the other, it relies on Rosenbauer’s AT superstructure concept, which has proven itself thousands of times over.

The AT electric, as exhibited at Interschutz 2022, is based on a Volvo FE electric series chassis. In this chassis, in addition to the two electric motors for the 4×2 drive on the rear axle, an electric motor with 70 kW continuous output is also installed as standard as an electric power take-off, a so-called E-PTO. The series chassis requires only minor adaptations to make it compatible for the AT electric body. Thus, cost-efficient and qualitatively mature solutions can be offered.

AT electric featuring N20 underfloor pump

The vehicle presented at the show is based on the German standard for HLF20 vehicles. In order to meet the applicable standard in the best possible way, an N20 underfloor pump is installed in the AT electric, which is driven via the original E-PTO provided by Volvo. The extinguishing water tank has a volume of 2,000 liters and is equipped with a free tank inlet.

The two high-voltage batteries are arranged to the right and left of the frame and offer a nominal storage capacity of 132 kWh. According to the chassis manufacturer, this can achieve a driving distance of up to 100 km in pure electric mode.

Electric back-up generator installed

To ensure that the extinguishing pump installed in the vehicle can guarantee the continuous duty required by EN1846, an electric back-up generator from Rosenbauer is installed. In this case, a generator is mechanically driven by a diesel engine and can permanently provide approx. 50 kW of electrical power. The electric back-up generator thus ensures safe and reliable use even in the event of a long-lasting disaster.

Rosenbauer have also come up with smart product features for the AT electric

Rosenbauer have also come up with smart product features for the AT electric. For example, retractable steps are installed under the battery packs for convenient access to the loading compartments. The arrangement of the underfloor pump also allows for an additional loading space in the rear equipment compartment, which can partially compensate for the lack of full height lockers between the axles.

In addition to the above-mentioned features, the AT electric is also distinguished by the rotating steps, the integrated twin cabin, its powerful scene lighting, as well as the extinguishing technology in the form of the RFC Admix Variomatic, as a pressure proportioning system.

Chassis:

• Volvo FE electric serial chassis
• 4×2 rear axle drive
• Electric power take-off (PTO) with a continuous output of 70 kW
• 2x high-voltage batteries with a total of 132 kWh nominal capacity
• Range: up to 100 km

Extinguishing system:

• N20 underfloor pump
• 2,000 liter water tank with free tank inlet
• Diesel-powered ‘Electric Back-Up Generator’ with 50 kW electrical continuous output
• RFC Admix Variomatic

L32A-XS electric – all-electric aerial ladder

Rosenbauer’s product range in the field of electric mobility was enriched by a further innovation presented at Interschutz 2022: The first fully electric aerial ladder available on the market – their L32A-XS electric.

The new variant is based on an original OEM electric chassis with the familiar functionality of an L32 aerial ladder. This makes the L32A-XS electric just as functional, powerful and reliable as the standard aerial ladder, which has proven its technological worth in the field with over 1,000 units.

Vehicle based on standard Volvo FE electric

Like the AT electric, this vehicle is also based on the standard Volvo FE electric

Like the AT electric, this vehicle is also based on the standard Volvo FE electric. The two electric motors responsible for the 4×2 rear axle drive provide the vehicle with sufficient driving dynamics and the electric power take-off, with a continuous output of 70 kW reliably supplies the drive units of the aerial ladder functions. Three batteries with a nominal energy storage capacity of 198 kWh are installed in the vehicle exhibited at the fair.

With an energy consumption of 20 kWh for typical city operations, 8 to 10 operations in a row can be carried out without recharging the vehicle, or with an average energy consumption of 52 kWh for an out-of-town operation, between 3 and 4 operations can be tackled without recharging the vehicle. This gives the vehicle a range without aerial ladder operation of approx. 75 to 80 km or continuous aerial ladder duty of up to 4 hours.

Electrified aerial ladder

Otherwise, the electrified aerial ladder offers all the familiar features that one has come to appreciate in the conventional version. In addition, it is equipped with the 5-section ladder with retractable cage boom. This allows a working height of 32 m to be safely achieved, regulated using the 3D load measurement method and controlled by the proven CAN-Safety control system.

The rescue cage offers a live load of 500 kg and can be equipped with all known equipment, such as an RM8 water turret, optimized for the respective area of application.

Main facts of the vehicle on display:

Chassis:

• Volvo FE electric serial chassis
• 4×2 rear axle drive
• Electric power take-off (PTO) with a continuous output of 70 kW
• 3x high-voltage batteries with a total of 198 kWh nominal capacity
• Energy consumption: 8 to 10 city missions in a row or 3 to 4 out-of-town missions in a row

Ladder:

• 5-section ladder with tilting cage boom
• Working height: 32 m
• Control: CAN-Safety
• Weighing system: 3D load measurement via load measuring pins
• Rescue cage: live load of 500 kg

GW-L electric – fully electric logistics equipment truck

The fully electric logistics equipment truck is built on a standard OEM e-chassis from Volvo

The fully electric logistics equipment truck is built on a standard OEM e-chassis from Volvo. The logistics application in the fire department is predestined for electro-mobility, as the application does not have to supply permanent high energy consumers (such as an extinguishing water pump).

The equipment can be transported to the operational site in an environmentally friendly way. Once at the scene of the operation, the vehicle can silently provide lighting.

Logistics truck based on Volvo FL Electric

The logistics truck presented at Interschutz 2022 is based on a Volvo FL Electric, which is available as standard from the chassis manufacturer. They have already had this vehicle on the market since 2020, pioneering the firefighting mobility industry together with Volvo.

Important questions, such as electric charging and the corresponding infrastructure could thus be answered very early on in the market. Rosenbauer is thus assuming the role of a responsible leader and expert on the issue.

The Volvo FL Electric can be equipped with 4 or 6 batteries as standard. The vehicle presented at Interschutz 2022 has 4 battery packs on board and can manage a range of about 300 km without any problems.

Main facts of the vehicle on display:

• Volvo FL electric serial chassis
• 2 speed transmission, 1st gear: 425 Nm
• Up to 6 battery packs with 66 kWh nominal capacity each possible
• Range with 4x battery packs approx. 300 km

What will the future bring?

Although looking into the future in general, but especially in such a dynamic environment as e-mobility, is fraught with great uncertainty and developments are difficult to predict, Rosenbauer has nevertheless set cornerstones that they will pursue with full dedication and conviction:

• For Rosenbauer, battery-powered electric drive concepts are the definitive technology of the future in the firefighting sector.
• Energy content and ecological storage media will continue to develop rapidly, so that limited range and operating time of the extinguishing agent pump in e-operation will no longer be an issue in the future.
• Rosenbauer continue to develop their own customized solutions and will also build on serial OEM chassis.
• They are expertise leaders, have a clear vision of the future, pursue a clear strategy and offer comprehensive process, product and system solutions.