A new electric firetruck will soon be joining the Victoria Fire Department fleet.
The city says it’s one of the first municipalities in Canada to purchase an electric fire engine, which is expected to arrive by the end of the year.
The Rosenbauer Revolutionary Technology (RTX) pumper fire engine has a range of 100 kilometres and is also equipped with an onboard diesel range extender, should power run low.
“This innovative feature will automatically engage if the charge on the batteries falls below 20 per cent, allowing the fire engine to operate continuously without limitations when responding to emergencies,” said the city in a release Wednesday.
Victoria says it’s just the third city in Canada to order an RTX electric firetruck, behind Vancouver and Brampton, ON.
Other similar trucks are already in use across the world, according to the city, including in Los Angeles and Berlin.
The RTX costs approximately $1.7 million. The city says the province is covering 33 per cent of the cost of the firetruck and charger through its CleanBC Commercial Vehicle Pilots Program.
The rest of the cost will be covered by Victoria, which the city says is “in line” with the price of a traditional fire engine.
The electric firetruck is expected to enter service in 2024. It will be based at the new $35.9 million fire hall at 1025 Johnson St., where a new 25-kilowatt direct current fast charger will be installed.
“The advanced capabilities of the electric fire engine will not only help to reduce emissions, but also enhance our ability to respond to emergencies,” said Victoria Fire Chief Daniel Atkinson in a release Wednesday.
“We are excited to embrace this cutting-edge technology, ensuring that we continue to provide the highest level of service to the residents of Victoria while demonstrating our commitment to climate leadership,” he said.
The City of Victoria hopes to have 80 per cent of its work fleet powered by electric or renewable energy by 2040 under its “Climate Leadership Plan.”
This year alone, the city says it’s adding 20 electric vehicles to its fleet.
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