The London Fire Brigade has become the first fire service in the United Kingdom to operate a fully electric driver-training fleet, after rolling out eight Volvo XC40 electric cars alongside two Renault Trucks E-Tech D electric lorries.
The London Fire Brigade unveiled the EVs this week at its Operational Support Centre (OSC), which will be used to deliver essential equipment across London.
The two 16-tonne electric Renault Trucks “lorries” replace older diesel vehicles that had been operating for over two decades and follows two years of successful trials at the OSC by the Brigade’s Fleet Liaison Equipment and Engineering Team (FLEET).
The Renault Trucks E-Tech D boasts a 66 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery providing an operating range of up to 400 kilometres (km), according to Renault.
Alongside the two electric trucks, the London Fire Brigade also rolled out a new fleet of Volvo XC40 electric cars used for driver training.
A total of eight Volvo XC40 electric vehicles (EVs) replace a fleet of hybrid and petrol cars that were previously used at the Brigade’s training centres in Ruislip, Beckton, and Croydon. The vehicles will be used by instructors to teach and refresh the blue-light driving skills of senior officers.
The XC40 is an older EV and has since been superseded by the EX40, but still boasts a range of around 450km.
“London Fire Brigade is proud to lead the way in decarbonising the fire and rescue sector,” said Mark Davidson, deputy assistant commissioner at the London Fire Brigade.
“By investing in electric training cars and LGVs, we are not only meeting our own sustainability commitments but also setting an example for others to follow.
“These innovations are vital in reducing our carbon footprint, improving air quality, and helping London reach its net zero goals.”
And perhaps not so great a fire risk as EV detractors claim.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
