Charlotte Fire Department has ordered an all-electric Vector™ fire truck from Spartan Emergency Response, expected to be the first of its kind operating in North Carolina and the Southeast. This all-electric fire truck will be housed in the city’s first all-electric fire house set to open in 2024.
Equipped with 327 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of proven automotive-grade batteries, Charlotte’s Vector will deliver the longest electric pumping duration in the industry, enabling its fire department to accomplish typical driving and pumping tasks exclusively on electrically generated power. The design also features low battery cell placement, offering a safer, lower center of gravity for enhanced stability while operating.
Charlotte’s Station 30 will be a three-bay, two-story, all-electric firehouse on a three-acre site across the street from the Police and Fire Training Academy. The 14,000-square-foot facility will house Vector, charging apparatus and additional elements to make it a fully electric facility.
As the first all-electric North American style fire truck, Vector™ will be similar in design to Charlotte’s current fleet of Smeal™ fire apparatus, offering firefighters the same truck style and working features they are used to, making for a smooth transition.
“We are honored to continue serving the Charlotte Fire Department, a longtime Smeal pumper and aerial customer,” said Chris Wade, Spartan Director of Sales. “Working with Fire Chief Reginald Johnson, Fleet Manager Capt. Josh Westbrooks and their teams, we are excited to partner with them on this electric fire truck and this future vision for the Queen City.”
REV Fire Group introduced the Vector fire truck in August 2021, representing the latest in green, energy-efficient technology for the daily use of fire services. Atlantic Coast Fire Trucks, an authorized dealer for Spartan, Smeal and Ladder Tower, is handling the order and delivery is expected in 2024.
