Fires in underground garages where multi-storey car parks always create great challenges for firefighters. For what ? Because driveways are often narrow and low. Therefore, an ordinary fire engine cannot drive through such a location. To counter this problem, British 6×6 vehicle manufacturer Hiload has just unveiled a fire engine specifically designed to fight electric vehicle fires.

An electric car fire is difficult to control

Electric cars do not catch fire more often than conventional vehicles, but they are more difficult to put out. In particular, a large amount of water is needed to stop the chain reaction in the battery. Chemical compounds constantly feed the fire, and for firefighters, every minute counts. In addition, extinguishing such a fire requires a large amount of water. To solve this problem, a British company Hiload built a special fire truck!

A pickup truck for extinguishing fires in covered parking lots

Based on a pickup truck Toyota Hilux, the model has the response equipment needed to respond to these specific fires. In addition, due to its low height, it can be used in underground garages and multi-story parking lots, unlike ordinary fire trucks. In addition, its low center of gravity should allow for faster maneuvering.

Some modifications had to be made to convert the Hilux into a Hiload 6×6 and then into a fire engine. The three-axle chassis supports the Hiload 6×6 weight of 5,600 kg and a load capacity of 3,000 kg. Thanks to the increase in cargo space, this transformation allows you to carry about three times more than the base car.

Finally, instead of thousands of liters of water, the Hiload 6×6 fire truck uses the Cobra Ultra High Pressure Lance (UHPL) system. This system consists of adding an abrasive to water capable of piercing sheet metal. The water is then injected directly into the battery housing at a pressure of 300 bar and immediately cools the battery, thus preventing any chain reaction. During the first tests, electric vehicle fires were extinguished in ten minutes using an average of 240 liters of water. Hiload 6×6 is currently being tested in the Czech Republic.