Dallas Love Field Airport has begun testing an electric aircraft firefighting and rescue truck after installing a 400-kilowatt fast charger to keep it ready for emergency response. Dallas Fire-Rescue is using the electric Rosenbauer PANTHER 6×6, which can accelerate from a standstill to 50 miles per hour in less than 25 seconds in normal electric mode, or less than 20 seconds when Boost mode is activated.
XCharge North America supplied the airport with a liquid-cooled C7AM charger, which was installed at the new Fire Station 21, officially opened on August 13. Additional electric vehicles are expected to use the same charger as Dallas Love Field continues to electrify its fleet.
Faster Response and Greater Firefighting Capabilities
The PANTHER weighs approximately 91,000 pounds, and the airport compares its acceleration with that of its diesel-powered counterpart, which requires 28 seconds to reach 50 miles per hour. The difference of several seconds is especially important when emergency crews are heading toward a burning aircraft.
The electric vehicle can spray water or firefighting foam up to 250 feet, compared with approximately 190 feet for the diesel-powered truck—an increase of 40%. This allows firefighters to attack the fire from a greater distance. Its electric motors also reduce noise by approximately 50% during emergency responses, which may make it easier for crew members to communicate.
The electric water pump can deliver up to 2,370 gallons per minute. Rosenbauer designed the battery system to cover the vehicle’s journey to the emergency site, the complete discharge of its firefighting agent, and its return to the station. The company says the vehicle can perform more than 90% of its daily operations and training entirely on electric power.
Real-World Testing Before Regular Service
Dallas Fire-Rescue was already operating Rosenbauer trucks when the company sought a fire department to test the electric PANTHER under real operating conditions. Dallas agreed to the trial on the condition that the charging system meet the stringent operational requirements of a vehicle dedicated to emergency response.
Dallas Fire Chief Justin Ball said the XCharge system “ensures that we are ready to respond quickly and safely when duty calls for it.”
The vehicle was unveiled at Dallas Love Field in April, and it is currently undergoing a six-month testing period covering daily operations, training, and performance comparisons with the airport’s existing fire trucks. Feedback from Dallas Fire-Rescue will help Rosenbauer improve the vehicle before it enters regular service as part of the fleet.
New Infrastructure at a Busy Airport
Fire Station 21 and the airport’s new operations building comprise a 33,400-square-foot facility that brings Dallas Fire-Rescue and airport operations teams together at one location. The facility replaces a fire station dating to the 1960s, whose location increased emergency response times.
Dallas Love Field, classified as the busiest medium-hub airport in the United States, handles nearly 18 million passengers and more than 250,000 flight operations annually. The electric vehicle and its 400-kilowatt charger therefore represent a significant test of battery-powered emergency vehicles’ ability to perform under real airport operating conditions.