Governments and municipalities have been working to electrify their fleets, and this has resulted in police departments adopting electric vehicles such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E. However, Mesa is thinking bigger and they’ve taken delivery of an electric fire truck.
Made by E-One, the model is the first fully electric ‘North American style’ fire engine in Arizona and will help Mesa achieve their goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
E-One’s parent company, the REV Group, didn’t say much about the truck, but noted it’s capable of pumping “four hose lines at 750 gallons (2,839 liters) per minute for four hours on a single charge.” The company also said the pumper truck will call Fire Station 221 home, so the building has been equipped with a charger that can replenish the vehicle in approximately three and a half hours.
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The E-One Vector was introduced in 2022 and has an 800 volt architecture as well as multiple battery packs that give the vehicle a combined capacity of 327 kWh. The model can also be equipped with an optional range-extending diesel engine, which makes it suitable for use during emergencies such as blackouts, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The engine automatically engages and recharges the batteries when they become low.
In a statement, Mesa Mayor John Giles said “We look forward to this as a study in the potential cost-savings and efficiency of electric vehicles in city operations.” He added the truck is a “further testament to Mesa’s investment in public safety and our Mesa Fire and Medical Department’s strong tradition of innovation and leadership in the state and the nation.”
The fire truck reportedly cost the city $1.4 (£1.1 / €1.3) million and the Rev Group said funding came from the city’s general fund as well as bonds approved by voters in 2018.
