The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is getting their first electric fire truck, hopefully for use by early 2022. While there are certain flaws, impracticalities, and detriments to widespread use of electric fire trucks, hence why they have not replaced the entire pre-existing fleet, they are a more eco-friendly vehicle that is quieter overall. They also still have other features in common with current fire trucks, and they can be modified as needed for each particular fire department. The arrival of LAPD's first electric fire truck is a step in testing the efficiency and effectiveness of electric fire trucks before they become more commonplace in the fleet.

Read on to find out more about how the electric fire truck works and more details on the plan.

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There Is Still Widespread Impracticality

Unfortunately, a whole fleet of electric fire trucks is not quite practical yet, so it won't be a widespread development for a while. Certain aspects have yet to overcome flaws, impracticalities, and detriments before they can be deemed effective and efficient.

The engine of an electric fire truck has yet to exceed the power and benefits of its gas-powered or diesel-powered counterparts, though a range extender offers the possibility of extending the fire truck's electrical driving range, allowing it to exceed its all-electric range for further use and efficiency. Some aspects of the electric fire truck are shared with their gas-powered counterparts, such as having pumper tanks and being able to use multiple forms of technology.

That said, however, there are certain benefits. The lack of noise from electric fire trucks allows for smoother and clearer communication among firefighters, and the lower emissions mean less pollution. Further, an electric drive train greatly reduces fuel combustion during transport. At this point, though, only 1% of America's vehicles are electric, and rescue vehicles, in particular, have to pass a larger battery of tests before they're allowed for further use. So for the moment, traditional fire trucks with their iconic designs are still predominant.

Customer Needs Take Focus

This electric fire truck was designed with what customers claimed their product needs were. One company, E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group, has decided to give Mesa, Arizona's fire department a full-service, all-electric fire truck, so the LAFD isn't the only group receiving one. This all-electric fire truck is a customizable Vector truck, just introduced in August.

Some of the Vector's more desirable features include an upgraded air conditioning system, low battery placement for superior gravitational centering, longer pumping duration, regenerative braking, range extender, and an electric drive motor. The lower center of gravity will also assist with improved cornering stability. As Mesa wants to be carbon neutral by 2050, the use of the Vector truck is a significant step toward that goal. This particular Vector model will be the first one built, and it is planned to arrive in 2022.

That said, it is unsure at this point if the truck is truly fully electric, and it may be more of a hybrid vehicle that relies more on its electric components. The Vector is reported to showcase a 316 kWh battery pack and a 400 kW electric motor, and the two electric motors put out 490 HP. No word has been confirmed on the finalized torque figures. More testing on electric fire trucks in Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai will soon begin

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The Fire Truck Is Creatively Customizable

A lot of the features are custom designed or built to serve certain scenarios or situations. The Vector truck being sent to Mesa will be able to pump at 750 GPM through four hose lines for four hours on a single charge, which is a higher accomplishment than initially expected.

Further, Volterra pumpers that these trucks plan to use are already being put into service in Madison, WI, and in Portland, OR, complete with a 155-kW hour battery pack. Some of the advertised customizable features include a severe-duty front bumper with full-width tray, 500 amps of available 12-volt power, electronic stability, extruded aluminum body with full compartments, a thermal battery management system, and a low hose bed design to hold more hose.

The Precedent Has Been Set

While this isn't the first time an order for an electric fire truck has been made, this may be the first time one is actually implemented and deployed. LAFD actually placed an order from Rosenbauer via Electrek for an electric fire truck back in February 2020. However, those plans had not yet fully manifested by the time the Vector's arrival had been announced.

Rosenbauer claims its plug-in hybrid “Revolutionary Technology” (RT) is efficient at taking the best of both worlds, containing a 50 kWh battery with an onboard internal combustion engine range-extender. LAFD reportedly paid $1.2 million for the electric fire truck.

Sources: insideevs.com, firerescue1.com, cleanfleetreport.com,