Transcript:
Wisconsin's new fire truck Madison seems to be like any other fire truck – sparkling with a crying sirens.
However, unlike most other fire trucks, this is run with electricity rather than diesel fuel.
Wong: “From the outside, if you don’t know it’s electricity or electricity, you won’t really know.”
That was Matt Huang from the Madison Fire Department.
The department began testing a prototype electric fire truck a few years ago and put the new production truck into service in February.
Huang said this seamlessly fits their operations.
Wong: “Even on the prototype version in E-Driving mode, we never used the power to run anything. …I don't know if we ever put it below 50% in our daily use.”
But the truck has a backup diesel engine just in case.
Electric fire trucks are often more expensive than traditional models.
But Huang said the new truck was running quietly, meaning no one was yelling during the phone call, which he said was fun and easy to drive.
“It feels like a rocket ship compared to some of the other older diesel engines we have.”
Electric trucks are also healthier for firefighters because they don’t sprinkle toxic diesel smoke into firehouses.
And it also does not produce carbon pollution, thus helping to reduce Madison's contribution to climate change.
Report Credit: Ethan Freedman/Chavobart Digital Media
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