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| Tempe’s E271 has GREEN Star Idle Reduction Technology. |
The Tempe (Ariz.) Fire Department is placing in service a new concept custom pumper designed to save fuel, reduce maintenance costs and lower emissions.
“The current economic climate has placed significant challenges on the city to manage the budget and sustain quality services,” said Tempe Fire Chief Mark Simmons. “It is essential for the Tempe Fire Department to pursue innovative ways to deliver firefighters to fire, EMS and other calls for service.”
Rosenbauer’s General Division built Tempe’s E271 with GREEN Star Idle Reduction Technology, a fully-integrated automatic engine control, which will turn off the main engine and start an auxiliary power unit (APU) once the engine sets idle for a programmed period of time.
The main engine consumes about one gallon of fuel per hour and the APU will consume one quart of diesel fuel per hour. The APU is designed to run all emergency lights, scene lighting and the onboard air conditioning unit.
On average, 80 percent of the calls the engine will answer are emergency medical or non-pumping calls that do not require the main engine to run.
The new required Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is prone to increased plugging during idle time, and the cost of replacing one is several thousand dollars.
This new engine is slightly smaller than the traditional pumpers that Tempe purchases, resulting in fuel efficiency gains. The cab dimensions are approximately 4 inches less in width and 8 inches shorter in length. The lighter weight allows for a smaller capacity front axle.
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