Austrian fire service vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer and German truck maker MAN Truck & Bus have unveiled a fully electric turntable ladder fire truck at the Interschutz trade fair in Hanover, Germany, marking a significant step in the electrification of emergency response vehicles.
The new L32A-XS Electric is built on MAN’s battery-electric eTGM chassis and is described by Rosenbauer as the world’s lightest fully electric turntable ladder truck. With a gross vehicle weight of less than 16 tonnes and an axle load below 10 tonnes, the vehicle complies with weight restrictions commonly applied to fire service deployment areas across Germany.
The first operational unit has been delivered to the Institute of Fire Service North Rhine-Westphalia (IdF NRW), Germany’s largest firefighter training institution.
Designed for Urban Firefighting Operations
The L32A-XS Electric complies with the DIN EN 14043 standard for fully automatic turntable ladders in class 23/12. This certification requires the vehicle to be capable of rescuing people from a height of 23 metres at a horizontal outreach of 12 metres.
According to Rosenbauer, the vehicle combines its established aerial ladder technology with the advantages of electric mobility, including zero local emissions and significantly reduced operating noise.
The manufacturer said the truck is particularly suited to urban firefighting operations, airports, industrial fire brigades, training facilities, and indoor deployment scenarios where noise and emissions can be critical concerns.
Electric Drivetrain and Battery System
The vehicle is powered by MAN’s eCD210 central drive system, which integrates an electric motor and a two-speed MAN TipMatic transmission within the vehicle frame.
The drivetrain delivers a continuous output of 210 kW and 800 Nm of torque. MAN has also equipped the chassis with a mechanical power take-off system to operate the turntable ladder equipment.
An emergency driving programme developed specifically for emergency vehicles optimises acceleration and driving dynamics during response operations.
Energy is supplied by two lithium-ion battery packs providing a combined gross capacity of 178 kWh, including 160 kWh of usable energy.
Operational Range and Charging Performance
According to MAN and Rosenbauer, the battery system enables the vehicle to perform up to ten typical urban emergency missions, each covering approximately eight kilometres, without requiring intermediate charging.
For rural deployment scenarios involving longer travel distances of around 20 kilometres per mission, the truck can complete approximately four operations before recharging is required.
The batteries support DC fast charging at up to 250 kW, allowing the state of charge to increase from 5% to 80% in approximately 33 minutes.
Supporting Fire Service Electrification
The delivery of the first vehicle to IdF NRW reflects growing interest in electric technologies within fire and rescue services.
“We are consistently expanding the use of electric technologies in our training operations. Following the procurement of an RT from Rosenbauer, the L32A-XS electric now also gives us access to an aerial ladder under 16 tonnes that can be deployed in regular service without additional approvals or special inspections. This is a milestone in our training and operational practice,” said Marcel Völkert of IdF NRW.
Rosenbauer highlighted the vehicle’s unique position in the market as the first fully electric aerial ladder vehicle that meets all relevant operational requirements and weight limits.
“By mounting the L32A-XS electric on the fully electric MAN eTGM chassis, we have achieved what no other manufacturer has managed to date. We are producing what is currently the world’s lightest aerial ladder vehicle on a battery-electric chassis,” said Andreas Zeller, Executive Board Member for Sales at Rosenbauer.
Expanding Electric Commercial Vehicle Applications
MAN said the project demonstrates the flexibility of its modular electric truck platform across a wide range of commercial and specialist vehicle applications.
“Thanks to the modular battery concept of our electric trucks, we are able to meet all weight requirements from 12 to 50 tonnes,” said Friedrich Baumann, Executive Board Member for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus.
“Our new MAN eTGM is perfectly suited for body solutions up to 16 tonnes and is therefore the ideal combination for this first fully electric aerial ladder vehicle that complies with all relevant fire service standards. We are very proud to be taking this major step in the electrification of fire service vehicles together with Rosenbauer.”
The unveiling highlights a growing trend toward electrification in specialist commercial vehicles as manufacturers seek to reduce emissions while maintaining the operational capabilities required for critical public services.