28.10.2021

Electric ladder/rescue platform

Rosenbauer has unveiled plans to launch its first all electric powered truck mounted ladder/rescue platform

The first electric model to feature will be the company’s 32 metre L32A-XS mounted on the two axle Volvo FE Electric chassis. Two electric motors power the chassis, while a third motor is used to power all lifting functions, with battery power coming from two or three 66kWh lithium-ion batteries. As with the current diesel version, the L32A-XS features a five section rescue ladder, plus an articulated jib and platform with 500kg capacity, rated for up to five people, as well as remote controlled foam and water pumps.
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The new L32A-XS will be the first electric ladder/rescue platform from Rosenbauer

The triple battery pack option is said to provide enough power for up to three ‘operations’ which involve driving 30km, setting up, three to four full ladder/platform cycles plus up to one hour of light operation before returning to the fire station. The battery packs can either be charged from an AC power source or from a suitable DC charging station. Lifting operations can also be powered from a regular AC power source. A range extender generator is also available.

The first prototype is expected to be ready by the middle of 2022 with Swiss civil rescue organisation Schutz & Rettung Zürich chosen to carry out live testing.
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The new L32A-XS ready for the road

Rosenbauer said: “The top priority of the development engineers is to make the electric aerial ladder just as functional, powerful, and reliable as the proven standard aerial ladder and to ensure the same ease of operation, serviceability, and spare parts availability.”

The company unveiled its first electric vehicle last year with the introduction of its RT tank firefighting vehicle. It has since been undergoing testing with the Berlin fire department for the past eight months, completing approximately 800 missions. More than 90 percent of these relied entirely on the battery packs without need of a range extender.