TUM electric fire engines: Success for the green future!

TUM electric fire engines: Success for the green future!

The factory fire department at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is a prime example of the successful use of electric vehicles in fire protection. It is the only fire department in Bavaria that uses electrically powered emergency fire engines. After a year in use, the two vehicles have proven to be reliable and up to the requirements of the fire department. Despite initial skepticism among emergency services, the vehicles are very popular and were quickly integrated into everyday life.

The introduction of electric vehicles was initially marked by clear reservations. Firefighters expressed concerns about range, charging times, technical reliability and operational safety. They agreed that they did not want to have to rely on experiments in an emergency. Given the fact that the old diesel vehicles were no longer operational, Jürgen Wettlaufer, head of the plant fire department, was faced with the decision not to invest in classic combustion engines again.

Sustainability goals

The plant fire department also pursues the goal of sustainability, which is also supported by the entire university. This orientation is in line with the current challenges of firefighting technology and the political requirements in many municipalities. Procurement of vehicles with combustion engines is becoming increasingly difficult, especially in cities like Berlin and Hanover.

In the automotive industry, e-mobility is not just a trend, but is increasingly becoming a necessity for fire departments. More than 100 years after the first electrically powered fire engines, today's fire departments are once again faced with the question of how they can make their fleets fit for the future.

Advantages and challenges of electric vehicles

There are numerous reasons why fire departments are increasingly relying on electric vehicles:

• Politische Vorgaben, die die Beschaffung von Fahrzeugen mit Verbrennungsmotor erschweren.
• Die Vorbildfunktion der Feuerwehr, um die Akzeptanz von Elektrofahrzeugen in der Bevölkerung zu erhöhen.
• Die Möglichkeit, bestehende Fahrzeuge zu ersetzen, etwa für Dienst- und Logistikfahrten.
• Der Beitrag zur Bekämpfung des Klimawandels.
• Die ungewisse Zukunft von Verbrennungsmotoren mit anstehenden Verboten für solche Fahrzeuge ab 2030.
• Die geringere Lärmbelastung und niedrigere Schadstoffemissionen von Elektrofahrzeugen.
• Die wichtigen Erkenntnisse aus dem Einsatz von Elektrofahrzeugen für zukünftige Beschaffungen.
• Die Eignung von Elektrofahrzeugen für Dienstfahrten, da tägliche Strecken oft unter 100 km liegen und die Fahrzeuge über Nacht geladen werden können.

The first all-electric fire engine is currently being tested in Berlin, although it still requires a classic combustion engine to charge the battery. With these innovative approaches, the fire departments not only want to live up to their tradition, but also respond to the social and ecological challenges we are faced with today.

We can't wait to see how electrical solutions for fire departments will develop further. The shift towards e-mobility offers great opportunities, but also entails risks that need to be overcome. Interested readers can find further in-depth information on this topic in the Documentation from Deutsche Rück as well as in Fire department magazine.