ACT Fire & Rescue’s BA support truck when it arrived in November 2023. Photo: James Coleman.
A fully electric fire truck is back in the ACT’s emergency vehicle fleet after suffering a battery issue. However, a year and a half after it arrived in the capital, there’s still no word on when it will actually enter service.
The electric Volvo breathing apparatus (BA) truck, used to respond to incidents involving structure fires and hazardous material spills, arrived in the ACT in November 2023, replacing a diesel-powered truck.
However, it appears that it has spent most of the time since then in the Volvo workshop in Brisbane, having developed an “intermittent fault”.
“The electric BA truck had been experiencing an intermittent fault that was depleting the 24-volt battery system,” the Emergency Services Agency (ESA) said in a statement.
“ESA worked with Volvo to diagnose the cause of the fault, which proved difficult to replicate in controlled conditions.”
A spokesperson for Volvo Group Australia subsequently told Region the issue was resolved by May 2025, and the truck returned to the ACT “fully operational”.
“Volvo Group Australia worked closely with the ACT ESA to ensure the issue was resolved satisfactorily.”
At the same time, ACT Fire and Rescue’s controversial $1.6 million plug-in-hybrid pumper truck, which also arrived in 2023, is being repaired for the second time this year.
“The Rosenbauer vehicle is offline due to a mechanical issue involving its battery packs. Our teams are working closely with the manufacturer to resolve the issue and return the vehicle to service as soon as possible.”
The $1.6 million Rosenbauer started service late last year, but it was short-lived. Photo: ESA.
Costing about $700,000 more than a diesel pumper truck, the Rosenbauer was touted as an Australian-first when the ACT Government signed its agreement with the manufacturer in 2021. It features a battery that can provide two hours of general-duty driving before the engine kicks in, providing a total range of about 1000 km.
However, the truck couldn’t join the fleet until the ESA came up with a “comprehensive evaluation plan and staff training plan” for it.
When the Rosenbauer truck eventually entered service late last year it had to be accompanied by another fire truck when attending emergencies in case it didn’t work “as intended”.
It was taken off the road again in January this year due to a problem with its main water hose pump.
The ACT Auditor-General slammed the procurement process for the hybrid truck as “poorly conducted” and found the ESA “did not adequately assess the value for money of the vehicle prior to ordering it”.
The ESA maintains that “although these vehicles are offline, there is no impact to community safety or ACT Fire & Rescue’s ability to respond to emergencies”.
“Our fleet remains fully capable and ready to meet operational demands.
“Since late 2024, the Rosenbauer vehicle has been responding to incidents in the ACT community, including automatic fire alarms, motor vehicle accidents, HAZMAT incidents, grass fires and structure fires.”
The Volvo BA truck was part of a $12.7 million deal between the ACT Government and Volvo Group Australia for four new electric emergency service vehicles.
The ESA operates under targets to reduce its 2023 emission levels by 33 per cent this year, 66 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2045.
The Volvo and Rosenbauer vehicles are the only hybrid or electric trucks in the fleet, and the ESA says there are “not currently” plans to acquire more.
Volvo Group Australia confirmed no additional orders have been placed.
ACTF&R’s former chief officer Matthew Mavity when the Rosenbauer arrived. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
“As the first emergency service vehicles of their kind in the southern hemisphere, integrating these electric trucks has presented unique challenges and learning opportunities,” the ESA said.
“These emergency service vehicles have provided valuable insights that will benefit not only ESA but also emergency services across Australia as we collectively transition to more sustainable technologies.
“The Rosenbauer electric pumper and Volvo electric BA truck have given the ESA’s mechanical team the opportunity to upskill and prepare for the future of fleet management.”
