Power supply for a vehicle of the volunteer fire brigade

On-board power supply for a team transporter/
first responders

EFOY client: Brunnthal (Germany) volunteer fire brigade
EFOY partner: Raymond Götz GmbH BMW BMW-specialised master business, Hohenbrunn, Germany

Borstromversorgung FfwFFW Brunnthal Ausbau Fahrzeug

The Application

Securing a reliable power supply which is independent of the grid is one of the major technical challenges for modern emergency and security services. In light of the increasing electrification of vehicle applications, this issue continues to gain importance. Even as digitalisation continues to advance, emergency response personnel still have to respond to emergencies quickly and efficiently, not only in disaster situations but also in daily emergencies. Communication and location systems have to work flawlessly and continuously, not only when the vehicle is in motion but even more crucially when the vehicle is stationary for long periods without access to grid power. Currently, their power supply is almost entirely reliant on generators and battery solutions with a very limited range. Depending on the duration of the call-out, this can result in huge additional logistical complexity and expense. It always used to be the case that, to charge the vehicle battery and an additional battery, the vehicle’s engine had either to be idling for a correspondingly long time or be plugged into a charger at the fire station.

The Challenge

One example is integrating technology into official vehicles, such as those used by the fire brigade. The technology used in and on the vehicle, such as special signal equipment, fire-brigade-specific lighting equipment and communications technology, requires a reliable 12 V supply. The Brunnthal volunteer fire brigade has to carry out a wide range of tasks and is equipped with the complex technical equipment to match. This is used not just to put out fires – from small fires in a paper container all the way up to major fires in industrial plants – but also in serious road traffic and occupational accidents. Moreover, the tasks include the recovery of material assets and the provision of emergency aid in the event of heart attacks, strokes and accidents in the home or at work. Alongside its active protection measures for instance, of flooding – the Brunnthal fire brigade also works to prevent emergency situations and to ensure that damage is avoided. Due to the extremely high value of space in the vehicle, extra power sources must be lightweight, compact and small.

The Solution:
EFOY Pro 2800

The EFOY Pro 2800, the latest fuel cell generation, is the ideal power supply solution for this application.

more about EFOY Pro 2800

“With EFOY Pro, we can permanently operate the vehicle’s entire electronics when stationary with the engine switched off. ”

This doesn’t just save us fuel and increase the duration of the call-out but also reduces logistical complexity. Another benefit is the unbeatable safety and constant availability of the fuel cartridges. The fuel cell is located in the rear section of the emergency vehicle and connected to the battery.

Marco Torriani, commanding officer, Brunnthal volunteer fire brigade

The Solution

The 110 W EFOY Pro 2400 is deployed in the new team transport vehicle. The EFOY Pro 2400 is a predecessor model to the new EFOY Pro 2800 with its rated power of 125 W. The fuel cell supplies power to both vehicle batteries, which in turn supply all the electrical systems on board.

The Results

The significant advantage of an EFOY Pro is its lower fuel consumption and increased energy efficiency. When the engine is idling, fuel consumption is 20 times higher than it is when a fuel cell is used. The EFOY Pro thus takes the strain off the fuel logistics and significantly reduces operating costs. As well as reducing CO2, fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions, the EFOY Pro also ensures enhanced operational capability. The engine no longer needs to run.