SpeComBat (Specialised Commercial Batteries)

Fire tender vehicles are a specific challenge for electrification as they require power for two very different needs -- propulsion and pumping. Propulsion requires a battery with a balance of power and energy whilst pumping requires a long-sustained release of energy at a lower power level. These battery performance requirements are unlikely to be well addressed by solutions developed for markets such as battery electric buses. This therefore drives a requirement for a different solution.

UK and International legislation is mandating Fire Brigade appliances which, within the UK, need to be zero emissions capable by 2030 and operate wholly emission free by 2050\. Similar timelines apply abroad. However, major manufacturers are not developing solutions fast enough for specialist vehicles.

The UK fleet affected by this legislation comprises around 9,000 vehicles including almost 3,000 pumping vehicles of \>7.5 ton GVW. The same legislation also affects the refuse collection industry (10,000 vehicles) and the refrigerated delivery industry where, in London alone, 9% of CO2 emissions (83,500 tons/annum) are estimated to come from auxiliary power units on refrigerated trailers.

The project is a feasibility study, and will deliver a battery design, business case and supporting technical analysis, to create a compelling product for development.

Project SpeComBat, led by Williams Advanced Engineering in collaboration with Imperial College London and London Fire Brigade will design the most sustainable battery pack possible with current and known future technologies, delivering the lowest TCO and LCA possible for these specialist vehicles.