With increasing demand to meet environmental goals, ARFF crews are seeking ways to reduce their emissions and carbon footprint, while increasing cost savings. With this guide, you’ll take a comprehensive look at what a fire department can expect from the innovative plug-in electric technologies of the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle.
In June 2021, Oshkosh Airport Products introduced the Striker Volterra electric ARFF vehicle, designed around Oshkosh proprietary and patented technology, as a solution for the growing demand for environmentally focused airports of all sizes around the world. The innovative plug-in electric technologies built into the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle were developed to offer airport fire and emergency services a way to meet regulatory demands while maintaining and enhancing the level of performance expected from Oshkosh emergency response vehicles.
Airports around the world continue to implement initiatives directed toward reducing pollution. Electric vehicle innovations have been vital to the ability to meet sustainability goals without impacting operations or the safety of the traveling public. The Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle is an innovation which uses industry-leading Oshkosh patented technology for fire truck electrification and operation.
Capabilities and benefits include:
Reduced and zero emissions vehicles have become increasingly popular in recent years as consumers, businesses, and governments become more conscious of their impact on the environment. The Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle leverages the latest advancements of EV technology, giving airports and their fire departments a solution that helps them meet environmental goals and protects firefighters, while providing exceptional and uncompromised capabilities for emergency response.
Environmental Initiatives and Regulations - According to a 2020 report from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), airports in the United States, China, and the European Union are major drivers of commercial flight carbon emissions. Governments in the United States, United Kingdom, and worldwide, continue to develop and enforce new environmental initiatives and regulations that seek to protect air quality and reduce carbon footprints. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration’s airport sustainability program encourages sustainable airport planning with the reduction of environmental impacts a core tenet of the program.
As regulatory environments continue to evolve and change, the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle provides airports a tool to help them meet local and national environmental and sustainability goals.
Cost Savings - Fuel is a significant cost for airports and airport fire departments alike, and prices have been trending higher for several years. Electric vehicles offer potential fuel cost savings over traditional diesel drivetrain vehicles by lowering the amount of fuel consumed. Additional cost saving can be realized with fewer required preventative engine maintenance and repairs. The smaller diesel engine consumes less oil and fluid, while standby mode eliminates wear from idling.
Health and Safety - The health and safety of firefighters is the top priority for manufacturers and departments alike. Low-emissions ARFFs can help mitigate and even eliminate exposure to diesel emissions when being run completely on battery power. The Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle will utilize the on-board batteries when entering and exiting the firehouse, creating a zero-emissions environment and helping to protect the firefighters.
One of the top considerations for electric vehicles is how the batteries are charged. Most EV drivetrains require a power source that connects the onboard batteries to the power grid. The Striker Volterra ARFF stands out from the rest of the industry because connecting to the power grid is not required for it to maintain a state of charge when the batteries are coupled with the diesel engine. As long as fuel is available, performance will not be degraded.
Plugging in the batteries may be the most efficient charging option for some departments, and the Striker Volterra ARFF can charge from the standard 220 or 480 electrical grid. The Striker Volterra ARFF is not dependent on a specialized charging infrastructure. Customers may opt is to install 480V 3-phase at 32 amps to support the Striker Volterra ARFF’s charging needs. ARFF vehicles typically do not experience the same volume of calls for service that a municipal apparatus does, so the need for fast charging, and the related expense, is a less critical consideration. If fast charging is important to the department, infrastructure investment would be a part of the planning process. Additionally, chargers could be integrated with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, achieving further emission reduction.
Ensuring uncompromised response to emergencies is vital to supporting firefighters and their critical mission to save lives. The Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle is fully tested and compliant to all NFPA 414 and ICAO standards.
NFPA 414 requires ARFF vehicles meet a two-hour full rated discharge requirement. A fully electric vehicle requires a very large amount of energy in order to meet this requirement. Once the power is depleted, the battery needs to be recharged, or a range extending energy source such as a combustion engine must be used.
In contrast, the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle can continue to operate at full performance with respect to driving and pumping. The firefighter does not need to react or adjust to a reduction in performance based on the battery’s state of charge, making the two-hour pump discharge requirement much easier to achieve.
The Striker Volterra ARFF’s Uncompromised Performance:
Rapid Response - 0-50 mph (0-80 kph) in 25 seconds. The vehicle can achieve 28% improved acceleration when fully loaded, resulting in a quickened response time.
Pump and Roll - Utilizing both the engine and the battery, the advanced powertrain continuously powers the pump while the driver’s input is smoothly applied to the vehicle’s motion.
Stationary Pumping - Utilizing the internal combustion engine to efficiently power the water pump, the vehicle’s Command Zone Control System optimizes engine RPM based on water pump requirements to reduce emissions and noise.
Operation of the Striker Volterra ARFF is virtually identical to traditional Striker ARFFs with a diesel drivetrain, eliminating the need for additional operator training and ensuring superior response:
6x6 Striker Volterra ARFF Vehicle Configuration:
Development of the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle considered the importance of fleet continuity for maintenance procedures and provides the same ease of maintenance as a traditional Striker ARFF with a diesel drivetrain. Like the traditional Striker ARFF vehicle, the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle has a walk-in service port for easy access to filter and fluid points as well as the engine. The high voltage equipment is the only area requiring specialized maintenance personnel.
The Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle has the potential for reduced maintenance schedules and costs:
Oshkosh Airport Products is dedicated to providing customers with unmatched service and support. Across the globe we have resources available to ensure your fleet is always ready for the runway.
Awareness of your fleet’s maintenance needs can help your team to be prepared for an emergency response. Runway Ready telematics displays real-time data on your truck and is available at any location and time. An algorithm established by Oshkosh engineers calculates your vehicle’s readiness and alerts you when attention is needed. To be prepared, specify your truck with Runway Ready telematics.
The Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing firehouses and infrastructure. While a connection to the power grid is not required to charge the truck’s batteries, departments may choose to install chargers for convenience and as an additional way to reduce emissions.
Preparation for the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle includes:
After its introduction in June of 2021, the Striker Volterra ARFF vehicle embarked on a road show tour throughout North America and Europe to exhibit the vehicle’s innovative plug-in technology and exceptional performance capabilities. Demonstrations took place at seven locations in North America and nine locations in Europe, attracting attendees from over 13 countries from around the world. The events offered aircraft rescue and airport firefighting crews hands-on and immersive experiences with this new technology.
The tour provided Oshkosh the opportunity to connect with airport fire departments and share how the Striker Volterra ARFF can meet the growing environmental sustainability needs among airports of all sizes. Attendees appreciated the Striker Volterra ARFF’s electrification technology which offers their airport fire fighters uncompromising operational performance, functionality, safety, and customization – while still meeting their sustainability goals and requirements.
Activates on startup without any user input when the vehicle exits the fire station. On re-entry, the vehicle can be seamlessly shifted to EV Driving mode once more. This mode utilizes only the onboard batteries to power the drivetrain.
The vehicle operates at zero emissions utilizing onboard batteries to provide power to required systems. The engine starts as needed to maintain battery readiness.
The vehicle automatically shifts to EV Driving mode as needed for acceleration, and to maintain the batteries for maximum readiness. The internal combustion diesel engine and batteries work together to maximize performance and improve response time, while reducing emissions.
Regenerative braking increases efficiency and reduces brake wear. Kinetic energy is converted to electricity which recharges the batteries and reduces brake temperature and wear.
Utilizing both the engine and the battery, the advanced powertrain continuously powers the pump while the driver’s input is smoothly applied to the vehicle’s motion.
Using the internal combustion diesel engine to efficiently power the water pump, the Command Zone Control System optimizes engine RPM based on water pump requirements to reduce emissions and noise.
