Acting fire chief Pete Steenaerts stated that adopting an electric fire engine could be a significant advancement in the City of Calgary’s green fleet strategy.
He explained that this initiative represents more than just a new fire truck; it is a leap forward in their mission to protect lives, property, and the environment.
The city plans to use the truck on a five-year trial. Steenaerts emphasized that the electric engine needs to prove its efficacy before the city commits to purchasing more.
He highlighted that the performance of the truck would be carefully monitored and evaluated throughout the trial period. Various performance metrics will be tracked, feedback from the crews will be gathered, and continuous assessments will be made to determine how well the engine meets the operational needs of the modern fire service.
This Pierce Volterra fire engine is currently the only one in Canada. Pierce Manufacturing is also testing three engines in the United States, including one in Arizona to evaluate its performance in extreme heat, according to Christopher Sapienza, vice-president of Canada’s Pierce Manufacturing.
Sapienza assured that there would be no compromise in the vehicle’s performance.
He mentioned that Calgary was offered a five-year trial to ensure the engine could maintain its charge in the city’s cold weather. Sapienza expressed confidence in their thermal management system for the batteries but acknowledged the need to prove its adequacy in real-life conditions.
Calgary fire expects the fire engine, which is standard size for the department, to be operational by the end of the summer. Its home base will be District 7, Mount Pleasant, where a charger is being installed.
Sapienza added that the charger would be capable of replenishing up to 50 percent of the battery charge within an hour. He noted that the truck is designed to handle up to 95 percent of its regular duties without using the backup diesel engine.
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