Rosenbauer is developing a new “e” platform for its Panther ARFF (aircraft rescue and firefighting) truck that uses similar components with its current Panther ARFF truck and its RTX electric pumper.
“The major difference between the two is that the requirements for an ARFF truck are much more stringent in terms of performance,” says Philipp Platzl, Rosenbauer’s global product manager airport vehicles. “In the process of electrifying the current Panther generation, there’s no major difference in most of the systems, where it has the same cabin concept, axles, and pumping systems. We want to deliver a truck that can be charged up to 300-kilwowatts which are emission free.”
Duane Kann, Rosenbauer’s ARFF regional sales manager, says the Panther electric will have an Energy Backup System onboard, powered by a diesel engine like an APU (auxiliary power unit), that can be used as a booster to increase or extend energy in the entire system. “The Energy Backup System automatically engages when the battery is low enough to need the charge, but the truck is still always powered by batteries.”
The Panther electric will be built on the Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 chassis and cab that currently has tubular chassis frame rails, a high performance coil spring suspension, differential locks on the axles, with a fully-loaded top speed of approximately 70-mph and a fully-loaded acceleration of zero to 50-mph in 35 seconds. Kann notes, “The Panther electric will exceed both of these parameters, especially if the EBU (Energy Backup System) is engaged by the driver for an added power boost.”
The Panther electric will have a Rosenbauer N80 2,100-gallon per minute (gpm) pump, a 3,170-gallon water tank, a 400-gallon foam tank, a 500-pound dry chemical and/or Halotron system, a Rosenbauer RM35 turret with HydroChem, a single or twin-agent booster reel, preconnected hand lines, a windshield deluge system, and an automatic foam selection of 1% through 9%.
Panther electric 6×6 options will include a 6-kW to 15-kW power generator, multiple scene lighting configurations, an auxiliary air compressor, tire pressure monitoring system, various slide-out shelves, a high pressure water pump, driver enhanced vision systems, a rear steer and an Electronic Stability Control system.
Kann says Rosenbauer plans on building a small number of Panther Electric ARFF trucks that will be partnered with key customers around the world.
“We’ll test the trucks in field operation under the widest range of conditions and in our own internal testing,” Platzl says. “We’ve been working with a half-dozen airports since the project’s start to develop the Panther electric ARFF truck prototype, and will rely on their feedback as we develop the Panther electric for serial production.”
Kann says Rosenbauer anticipates sales in the U.S. to start in 2026, with one initial partner U.S. airport expected to take delivery in 2025.
“When we deliver the Panther Electric ARFF truck to the U.S. partner we will coordinate bringing new customers in for demonstrations,” he says.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Ariz.-based journalist, the author of three novels and five non-fiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment editorial advisory board. He served 22 years with Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including the position of chief.
