AFAC 2023: Volvo hands over electric fire and rescue truck to ACT

Volvo Group has handed over its first zero-emissions battery-electric fire and rescue truck, which was supplied to the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) at the Australasian Fire and Authorities (AFAC) conference yesterday (August 23), at the region’s largest emergency management conference and exhibition.

This week, trucksales is at the AFAC Conference where leaders working in fire and emergency management from around Australasia are meeting in Brisbane. The theme of ‘Creating a sustainable future: the challenges and opportunities’, will drive important conversations during the four-day event.

AFAC23 is providing the largest opportunity in Australasia for these sectors to come together to discuss the latest critical research, view and test the latest technologies, and build comprehensive strategies on how to better work together to achieve the ultimate goal – preservation of life and property.

This year, the event has grown to be 59 per cent bigger than it was last time it was hosted in Brisbane in 2016.

The ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman MLA, as well as Acting Commissioner of the ESA, Jason Jones; ACT Fire & Rescue Chief Officer, Matthew Mavity; Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden, Mr. Per Linnér; and guests joined Volvo Group Australia President and CEO, Martin Merrick, in the handover of the inaugural electric truck to the ACT Emergency Services Agency.

The purchase of the battery-electric truck is a significant milestone in the partnership established between Volvo Group Australia and the ESA in July 2022.

The vehicle is a Volvo FL Electric with a body designed and built in New Zealand. The FL Electric will be used for important tasks including operational support for Fire & Rescue teams.

“This is a significant milestone for the ACT. Transitioning emergency services operational support vehicles to zero emissions vehicles is a crucial step to achieving our government’s nation-leading target of net zero emissions by 2045,” said Minister Gentleman.

The Acting ESA Commissioner, Jason Jones, added: “The delivery of this co-designed vehicle is a significant step in our journey to lowering emissions within our emergency services fleet.

“As we transition our fleet, we are excited to not only improve our environmental footprint but improve safety and well-being for our staff and volunteers. I would like to recognise and thank the project team including firefighters from ACT Fire & Rescue, who together demonstrated leadership and innovation in the design and delivery of this vehicle.”

Following initial Volvo driver development training and vehicle implementation processes, this first vehicle is expected to go into operational service in and around the ACT in early 2024.