Alternative engine eyed as part of the city’s sustainability efforts
Salt Lake City Television – The Salt Lake City Fire Department in partnership with the Sustainability Department and the Public Services Department hosted an open house exhibition of a plug-in hybrid-electric fire engine. The concept truck from Rosenbauer America, the second largest manufacturer of fire apparatus in the United States, toured several cities this year. Representatives from Rosenbauer were on hand at the Open House to discuss the operational and sustainability features of the truck.
The Fire Department is invested in exploring options to reduce their carbon footprint and improve air quality. They are also interested in achieving localized air quality benefits within the firehouse itself from an electric apparatus.
Salt Lake City has ambitious climate and clean air goals, including an overall 80 percent reduction of Salt Lake City’s community carbon footprint by 2040. This has led the City to make continued investments in electric and alternative-fueled vehicles across the City fleet. This currently includes nearly 300 hybrid or battery-electric vehicles and 72 compressed natural gas heavy duty vehicles.
No procurement decisions have been made at this time for the electric fire truck. The Salt Lake City Fire Department hosted the exhibit to provide an opportunity for its staff and other fire departments and administrators across the Wasatch Front to learn more about the new cutting-edge apparatus.
See More Videos on FirefighterNation.com
Fire fighters are on the front lines of managing environmental hazards and enhancing community safety and well-being. The SLCFD is committed to investing in technology and infrastructure that not only serve those aims, but mitigate the pollution that contributes to climate change and poor air quality.
In 2018, the Fire Department completed construction of two net-zero energy fire stations (14 and 3), which are the first two of their kind in the country. Other stations house on-site solar panels, which provide between 44 and 92 percent of electricity needs at those stations. The Department also uses battery-electric cars for some administrative staff.
For more information on the apparatus, please visit: www.slcdocs.com/slcgreen/Rosenbauer-EFT-Tour-2019.pdf
