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Redmond Mayor Angela Birney, center, is joined by officials and guests as she cuts the ribbon during the unveiling of a new electric fire truck in Redmond on Saturday. (City of Redmond Photo)
Redmond, Wash., is home to the first electric fire engine to enter service in Washington state as city government officials unveiled the rig in a ribbon cutting at Redmond City Hall on Saturday.
The Pierce Volterra electric pumper truck is part of Redmond’s goal to invest in sustainable transportation measures and achieve net-zero emissions from city operations by 2030.
The new vehicle is designed to operate in all-electric mode, but it does have a backup diesel engine built in for added range and extended pumping operations when necessary. According to the city, a traditional diesel engine emits 18 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 0.13 metric tons of nitrogen oxides per year. The Volterra will emit zero while utilizing its electric-only mode and will save the department approximately 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel per year.
The engine and its charging infrastructure — originally priced at $2.4 million — was obtained at significant cost savings. The City of Redmond paid $264,600 thanks to grants and donations from the Washington Department of Ecology, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Puget Sound Energy, and community partners including Amazon and Microsoft.
The City of Redmond paid $264,600 for the new electric fire engine. (City of Redmond Photo)
“The unveiling of the first-ever electric fire truck in our state is not just a testament to our commitment to innovation — it’s a bold step forward in our dedication to sustainability, safety, and the well-being of our community,” Redmond Mayor Angela Birney said on Saturday.
Birney joined nearly 350 U.S. mayors last summer in a commitment to electrify at least 50% of their municipal fleets by 2030 and increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 500% by 2035.
Along with the cost savings and environmental benefits, the new truck is said to perform as well or better than traditional fire engines during emergency responses. It incorporates design enhancements to improve the vehicle’s maneuverability through tight spaces and allow faster access to equipment when firefighters arrive on scene. The engine is rated to pump 2,000 gallons per minute, the same as Redmond’s other pumper trucks.
“This isn’t just an upgrade to our fleet — it’s a blueprint for how modern fire departments can protect both our community and our planet,” Redmond Fire Chief Adrian Sheppard said in a statement.
The truck, built by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc., has an 80-mile electric-only range, and a normal rapid recharge for the battery will take less than 15 minutes.
The new engine will be based at Station 12 in Overlake. Fire Station 11 in downtown Redmond is also being fitted with charging infrastructure and the department plans to acquire another Volterra.
