Christian P. Koop

It is not uncommon to pick up a fleet magazine and find a picture on the cover of a fleet that recently turned “green.”

Well, we all know what turning green means: converting a traditional gasoline- or diesel-powered fleet to run on alternative fuels. This reminds me of a song by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Band and their song “The Cover of Rolling Stone.” Well, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Band did wind up on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, but the fun doesn’t end there for green fleets.

Alternative Fuel Types

There are four types of alternative fuels that fall into this category: compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), and hydrogen. These alternative fuels are technically referred to as “fuel gas” because they are true gases that will vaporize to the atmosphere if not stored under pressure. These are not to be confused with fuels such as diesel and gasoline (petrol), which are liquid at atmospheric pressures. While there are four gases, for the purposes of this article I will limit it to the most commonly used, which are typically the most practical for use in motor vehicles: CNG and LPG. While engine and chassis manufacturers have done an outstanding job mating their products with green fuels, now fleet departments are faced with a new challenge-not how to fix them but where to fix them.

Repair Facilities

Existing mechanical and collision repair facilities are built to federal, state, and local codes for gasoline and diesel engines-not alternative fuels. To make matters worse, not all alternative fuels have the same characteristics. Facility requirements for CNG and LPG vehicles differ significantly. Requirements are totally opposite for one another.

First, let’s take a look at CNG. Found below the ground, it has a vast pipeline system for transporting. Because it is not a dense gas, transporting above ground is not only hazardous but not cost-effective, which means that anyone who is running CNG vehicles has a fueling station located on a natural gas pipeline and has some form of compressor system to compress the vapors to high pressure and store them. Natural gas is pumped into storage tanks until it can be dispensed into vehicles. Natural gas is primarily composed of methane and is a byproduct of crude oil production or can be drawn up from oil wells. It also contains two members of the hydrocarbon family-ethane and propane-and other gases such as carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen compounds of sulphur, along with water vapors. An odorant that is sulphur-based (methyl mercaptan) that smells like rotten eggs is added to help detect leaks.

On vehicles, CNG is generally stored in tanks at high pressure between 3,000 to 3,600 psig (200 to 250 bar), but keep in mind that it remains a gas even under high pressures. And because it is lighter than air, when it leaks it floats upward and can dissipate with the surrounding air if it does not get trapped or confined by a structure. This is significant because any leaks will rise. Imagine a facility that is left overnight with a leaking tank and someone comes in and turns on the lights. Unless a repair facility has been built or modified for storing and repairing CNG vehicles, not only are you in grave danger but also you are in violation of local and federal codes.

LPG is sometimes simply referred to as propane and is a byproduct of natural gas production and petroleum refining. It is stored as a liquid at relatively low pressures-approximately 250

By Alan M. Petrillo

The fire truck of the future is fast becoming an electronically controlled vehicle, and many technological systems are making the vehicles more efficient, easier to operate, simpler to maintain and repair, and safer to use when fighting fires.

Some of the systems being put on fire trucks are bringing the future to today-artificial intelligence in the form of envelope control for aerials, automatic and wireless water streams for pumpers and aerials, avoidance control systems, and all-around camera usage.

Have No Fear

Trapper Meadors, sales engineer for Precision Fire Apparatus, thinks the fire truck of the future is here now. “The technology that manufacturers are putting into fire trucks today is far surpassing anything done in the past,” Meadors says. “And, the customer base is embracing it. We’re building trucks with electric valves, control screens that control pumps, and screens that show where equipment is stowed or if it’s deployed. And, we see that kind of technology use only increasing.”

Meadors notes that the younger generation of firefighters “embraces the newer technology and is used to using touch screens and computerized equipment, which help provide a more streamlined operation of fire trucks.”

Jason Witmier, product manager of aerials for KME, says that the use of electronics still “scares some people in the fire service. When the fire service first started using electronics, they took electrical devices for industrial applications and used them in fire trucks. Sometimes they didn’t work well, and there’s a generation of firefighters that remembers that.”

The Westminster (MA) Fire Department had KME build its new pumper with all electronic valves and an electronic pressure governor, which allows for a shorter wheelbase and more maneuverability of the rig. The electronics also simplify operation of the pumper. (Photo courtesy of KME.)

However, Witmier believes that electronics on fire trucks have made great inroads recently. “We’ve turned the corner in the last five years,” he says, “because manufacturers developed devices specifically for our industry and made them function without problems.” Witmier points out that electric valves and pressure governors allow manufacturers to shorten the pump enclosure, which allows a shorter wheelbase that gives more maneuverability to the truck. “Or, you could keep the same wheelbase,” he adds, “and get a lot more storage space.”

Dave Rider, director of global product development for Smeal Fire Apparatus, believes the industry will see a lot more integration of touch screens on fire trucks. “The younger generation is used to iPads and iPhones,” he says. “So, integrating that technology into the fire service gives us the iFiretruck.”

Controlling the Truck

Lisa Barwick, director of business development for product management at Pierce Manufacturing Inc., says Pierce recently upgraded its Command Zone multiplexing system to bring new technology and enhancements to controlling fire trucks. “We used voice-of-the-customer feedback to determine what was important to firefighters-elements like a touch screen and where buttons should be placed,” Barwick points out. “We used that i

By Alan M. Petrillo

The fire truck of the future is fast becoming an electronically controlled vehicle, and many technological systems are making the vehicles more efficient, easier to operate, simpler to maintain and repair, and safer to use when fighting fires.

Some of the systems being put on fire trucks are bringing the future to today-artificial intelligence in the form of envelope control for aerials, automatic and wireless water streams for pumpers and aerials, avoidance control systems, and all-around camera usage.

Have No Fear

Trapper Meadors, sales engineer for Precision Fire Apparatus, thinks the fire truck of the future is here now. “The technology that manufacturers are putting into fire trucks today is far surpassing anything done in the past,” Meadors says. “And, the customer base is embracing it. We’re building trucks with electric valves, control screens that control pumps, and screens that show where equipment is stowed or if it’s deployed. And, we see that kind of technology use only increasing.”

Meadors notes that the younger generation of firefighters “embraces the newer technology and is used to using touch screens and computerized equipment, which help provide a more streamlined operation of fire trucks.”

Jason Witmier, product manager of aerials for KME, says that the use of electronics still “scares some people in the fire service. When the fire service first started using electronics, they took electrical devices for industrial applications and used them in fire trucks. Sometimes they didn’t work well, and there’s a generation of firefighters that remembers that.”

The Westminster (MA) Fire Department had KME build its new pumper with all electronic valves and an electronic pressure governor, which allows for a shorter wheelbase and more maneuverability of the rig. The electronics also simplify operation of the pumper. (Photo courtesy of KME.)

However, Witmier believes that electronics on fire trucks have made great inroads recently. “We’ve turned the corner in the last five years,” he says, “because manufacturers developed devices specifically for our industry and made them function without problems.” Witmier points out that electric valves and pressure governors allow manufacturers to shorten the pump enclosure, which allows a shorter wheelbase that gives more maneuverability to the truck. “Or, you could keep the same wheelbase,” he adds, “and get a lot more storage space.”

Dave Rider, director of global product development for Smeal Fire Apparatus, believes the industry will see a lot more integration of touch screens on fire trucks. “The younger generation is used to iPads and iPhones,” he says. “So, integrating that technology into the fire service gives us the iFiretruck.”

Controlling the Truck

Lisa Barwick, director of business development for product management at Pierce Manufacturing Inc., says Pierce recently upgraded its Command Zone multiplexing system to bring new technology and enhancements to controlling fire trucks. “We used voice-of-the-customer feedback to determine what was important to firefighters-elements like a touch screen and where buttons should be placed,” Barwick points out. “We used that i

Hauser Rural fire Protection District, North Bend, OR, Star Series pumper. Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 380-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,250-gpm rear-mount pump.