The Oshkosh-built Striker Volterra electric ARFF vehicle (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighter) packs advanced battery technology and multiple power options to deliver consistent emergency response performance no matter how long it needs to be in action.
Oshkosh has been manufacturing ARFF vehicles since it first launched the MB-5 for use by the US Navy back in 1968, and they’ve been pushing the envelope of disaster response performance ever since. The company’s latest ARFF, the electric-drive Striker Volterra shown here, features a slanted body with front bumper designed for maneuvering through the ditches and rough terrain they might encounter on a damaged runway. It’s also big — but it’s big for a purpose. Because ARFF vehicles don’t have to navigate the confines of city streets, they can be built bigger, carry more water, more rescue equipment, and more personnel than conventional fire trucks.
But that’s not why you’re reading about this on Electrek. You’re here to read about the Striker Volterra’s advanced battery tech, electric drive motors, and duty cycle-extending genset that effectively makes it a big EREV. More sympathetic I could not be, but — alas! — OshKosh hasn’t officially revealed those specs.
That said, it’s probably safe to assume they’re pretty similar to those used on the big Pierce fire fighting chassis developed for the Gilbert, Arizona fire department, which uses (you guessed it) an OshKosh-developed battery pack, electric drive system, and onboard diesel generator that can provide power to the electric system. That vehicle packs a 244 kWh battery pack good for up to six hours of operation on battery power alone.
The OshKosk electric Striker Volterra ARFF shown here is a Class 5 6×6 “rapid response” model capable of hauling up to 4,000 gallons of water (over 16 and a half tons, if you’re curious) and “firefighting foam” across an airport at speeds of up to 50 mph, which is positively moving for a machine this size. Plus, it supports zero-emission pumping, surpassing the NFPA required 2-hour continuous pump operation without using diesel.
Again, OshKosh hasn’t shared power and performance specs, but has confirmed that its electric drive Striker Volterra is 28% quicker to 50 mph than its Scania diesel-powered siblings, and that truck packs 550 hp and more than 1,750 ft‑lb torque. So — yeah. It’s got some juice.
Other key benefits, according to OshKosh, include a 75% reduction in total carbon footprint when compared to a conventional internal combustion engine ARFF vehicle based on the manufacturer’s estimated duty cycle, the eliminated need for long diesel idling times, and the ability to run on full-electric when entering, leaving and idling in the fire station, significantly reducing firefighter’s exposure to harmful emissions.
You can find out more by reading the official OshKosh ARFF vehicle reference guide here.
Electrek’s Take
With the relatively short distances driven and extreme loads involved, airports present a nearly ideal use case for battery-electric vehicles in general, and their immediate off-the-line torque, improved efficiency, and ability to operate much more quietly than diesels (facilitating communications) could make all the difference in an emergency situation where lives are quite literally on the line.
Plus, as demand for on-road fossil fuels drops, airports and airlines (historically responsible for about 4% Earth’s global warming) are becoming a bigger and bigger slice of a rapidly shrinking pie when it comes to fossil fuel emissions.
Or, as OshKosk puts it: As airports continue to prioritize sustainability and operational efficiency, the Striker Volterra electric ARFF stands out as a forward-thinking solution that meets today’s demands while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.
It’s a bit pitchy, but I couldn’t agree more.
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