Volvo Group has laid claim to Australia’s first zero-emissions fire vehicle, withe truck being supplied to the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA), at last week’s Australasian Fire and Authorities (AFAC) conference, .
ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman MLA; ACT Fire & Rescue Chief Officer, Matthew Mavity; Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden, Mr. Per Linnér, and guests join Volvo Group Australia President and CEO, Martin Merrick, in the handover of the inaugural e-vehicle.
Volvo says the purchase is a significant milestone in the partnership established between Volvo Group Australia and the ESA in July 2022.
The vehicle is a Volvo FL Electric, a truck designed for urban and city environments fitted with a fire truck body designed and built in New Zealand, and it will be used for tasks including operational support for Fire & Rescue teams.
“This is a significant milestone for the ACT. Transitioning emergency services operational support vehicles to zero emissions vehicles is a crucial step to achieving our government’s nation-leading target of net zero emissions by 2045, ” said Minister Gentleman.
The Acting ACT ESA Commissioner Jason Jones said the delivery of this co-designed vehicle is a significant step in the journey to lowering emissions within its emergency services fleet.
“As we transition our fleet, we are excited to not only improve our environmental footprint but improve safety and well-being for our staff and volunteers. I would like to recognise and thank the project team including firefighters from ACT Fire & Rescue who together demonstrated leadership and innovation in the design and delivery in this vehicle,” said Jones.
Martin Merrick, President of Volvo Group Australia, said transport accounts for 19 per cent of Australia’s carbon emissions, and 38 per cent of that is from road vehicles.
“With this project, government and the emergency services are leading by example in moving to net-zero vehicles,” said Merrick.
“Early adopters like the ESA and ACT Government should be commended and Volvo is proud to be supporting their work to shape a more sustainable world,” he said.
Following initial Volvo driver development training and vehicle implementation processes, this first vehicle is expected to go into operational service in and around the ACT in early 2024.
With an energy capacity of 265KWh, the 135kW/425Nm FL Electric has a range of up to 300 kilometres.
