The fire department at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is the only one in Bavaria that uses electric rescue and firefighting vehicles. After one year, it is clear that the two trucks are reliable and fully capable of meeting the considerable demands placed on them. Despite initial skepticism, they are now very popular with emergency services personnel.
TUM Werkfeuerwehr There was considerable resistance when the idea was first discussed at the TUM plant fire department on the Garching campus. An internal survey among firefighters revealed significant doubts: concerns about range, charging times, technical reliability, and operational safety prevailed. "We can't rely on experiments in an emergency," was the common opinion at the time.
But the old diesel vehicles had reached the end of their service life. For Jürgen Wettlaufer, head of the plant fire department , one thing was clear: "Investing in pure combustion engines again was out of the question. As a fire department, we must also address sustainability and future viability. The entire university is committed to this goal."
Technical solution found
A specialist manufacturer finally supplied the fitting model: 490 hp, ergonomic design with low removal heights for tools and hoses, a modern operating concept - and, as a decisive extra, a so-called range extender. This bio-diesel-powered unit can recharge the battery during operation if necessary. This means the vehicles can even be used longer than conventional diesel models if required.
However, the average distance traveled on the TUM campus in Garching is only 2.4 kilometers. Five to six calls must be handled daily, with an average call duration of around 30 minutes. This means that the battery is sufficient to drive most calls purely on electric power before the range extender needs to be started or the vehicle recharged.
TUM Werkfeuerwehr Advantages in daily use
After twelve months of practical experience, it is clear that the new vehicles bring significant improvements. Firefighter Isa Kraus emphasizes the lower noise pollution while driving: "This allows us to communicate with each other much better, which is great. You can also understand the radio and your colleagues without any problems, so you don't have to keep asking questions - a major gain in safety and comfort."
The noise pollution for emergency personnel working outside on stationary vehicles is also significantly reduced. The water pump operates at around 75 decibels - equivalent to the noise of a household vacuum cleaner or coffee machine. Diesel vehicles are incomparably louder.
Another advantage is that diesel exhaust fumes from stationary vehicles are a thing of the past in over 97 percent of operations. Most of the units and tools on board run locally emission-free on electricity from the vehicle battery. Only during lengthy firefighting operations lasting more than half an hour does the range extender need to be started to support the powerful water pump.
And in the future, charging will become even more sustainable via a photovoltaic system on the fire station's roof. Wettlaufer's conclusion is clear: "Our experience proves that electric mobility works for the fire department. I hope that many more fire departments will follow suit. In any case, there is a lot of interest - we regularly receive inquiries about our experiences."
Technical data at a glance:
- Battery capacity: 66 kWh
- Drive power: 360 kW (490 hp)
- Range extender: 225 kW (six-cylinder diesel engine running on biodiesel)
- Drive: Two electric motors, permanent all-wheel drive
- Water tank: 2,000 liters
- Foam tank: 125 liters
- Seats: 2 + 4 (+1 emergency seat)
- Total weight: 16 tons
- Wading depth: 50 cm
