Revolutionary Volvo Penta-powered Electric Fire is Introduced to Customers

Volvo Penta introduces an electric driveline for leading fire service vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer’s pioneering fire truck, named “Revolutionary Technology” (RT).

FREMONT, CA: Volvo Penta has built an electric driveline for the leading fire service vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer’s pioneering fire truck, named “Revolutionary Technology” (RT). The truck featured a groundbreaking drive technology, vehicle architecture, operability and connectivity and was officially unveiled at an event in Austria. The RTs will be sent to fire departments in Berlin, Amsterdam, and Dubai to start the real-world customer testing.

Revolutionizing the fire service industry

By moving forward from the conventional commercial vehicle concepts and creating an electric solution for the truck’s driveline, Volvo Penta and Rosenbauer have launched a completely new vehicle architecture that is set to transform the fire service industry. With its electric driveline, the fire truck displays excellent ergonomics, functionality, and safety, and also high loading volumes, compact dimensions, and one-of-a-kind agility. The Volvo Penta electric driveline brings benefits like zero exhaust emissions and significantly reduced noise levels. 

The fire truck of the future

Firefighters responding to a call needs a vehicle that is capable of high speed, rapid acceleration, hard braking, and manoeuvrability. The RT’s electric driveline, coupled with independent suspension and a hydropneumatic chassis, provides a high standard of safety and excellent driving performance. 

Proven Volvo technology

Volvo Penta, as part of the Volvo Group, used proven technology and competence from Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses and adapted it to fulfil the performance needs of a fire service application. The final result is a proven Volvo Group technological solution that is customized to meet Rosenbauer’s specific needs. 

“The RT is in a different league to modern standard firefighting vehicles in terms of its operational tactical benefits, loading options and firefighting equipment,” said Dieter Siegel, CEO at Rosenbauer International. “Volvo Penta already supplied us with diesel engines for our conventional fire trucks. After many years of successful collaboration – together with the fact that they are part of the Volvo Group which is leading the way when it comes to electromobility and electric trucks – they were the ideal partner for the RT project. We’ve worked together closely to design a customized solution, using proven Volvo technology, that helps our electric fire truck to do its job in a safer, more effective, and more sustainable way than a conventional vehicle.”