Fire department. Protection & Rescue Zurich is using electric turntable ladders as a world premiere.
From December, the city of Zurich’s professional fire brigade will put the world’s first electrically powered turntable ladder into operation. It is a pilot project. The vehicle is to be tested for its suitability for use over the course of a year.
The electric turntable ladder from the manufacturer Rosenbauer International AG is to be used under real conditions both in the urban environment of the city of Zurich and in the airport region, the joint protection and rescue Zurich (SRZ) on Tuesday.
Those responsible expect the test to provide “important insights for the later, sensible procurement of emergency vehicles with possible alternative drives”.
The e-car turntable ladder is powered by three electric lithium-ion batteries instead of diesel, as SRZ further reports. “There should be no differences in the operation of the turntable ladder compared to models.” However, the vehicle should be significantly quieter.
SRZ rents the vehicle for the time being. The purchase price would currently be around CHF 1.2 million. A standard turntable ladder with the current SRZ equipment costs around CHF 1 million.
At the moment, the professional fire brigade are still familiarizing themselves with the new vehicle. From December it will be on the road, among other things, in firefighting, rescuing people and animals and in storm operations in the city of Zurich and in the airport region.
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