Rosenbauer America is teaming up with the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department to further develop the fire apparatus manufacturer's PANTHER 6x6 electric through to series production. 

The department was selected to test the pre-series version of the electric fire apparatus. It's set to be delivered to Dallas Love Field Airport in mid-2025.

Putting the Fire Truck to the Test

During the approximately 6-month test phase, the vehicle will be put through real-world use cases to test its performance. 

Tests will include integration into daily operations, performance compared to the current fleet, and functionality in training operations, Rosenbauer noted in a news release.

Insights gained from the test phase will be passed on to the product team and will flow directly into further development. 

After the completion of the testing phase, the PANTHER 6x6 electric will be integrated into the fleet as a regular operational vehicle. 

“The Dallas Fire Rescue Department is proud and excited for the opportunity to partner with Rosenbauer in the creation and development of a new and sustainable technology that will help lower our carbon footprint while ensuring the safety of our residents and millions of travelers who fly through Dallas Love Field every year,” Interim Fire Chief Justin Ball said.

The city fire department also oversees the fleet of firefighting vehicles at Dallas Love Field where the PANTHER 6x6 electric will be used at Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Station 21.

"We are excited to collaborate with the Dallas Fire Rescue Department and Dallas Love Field as partners to advance the PANTHER 6x6 electric. Findings from real operating conditions at Dallas Love Field will be incorporated into the optimization of the vehicle. This paves the way for airports to further reduce their carbon footprint in the future by using low-emission vehicles," Rosenbauer International Chief Sales Officer Andreas Zeller said. 

In addition to the pre-series PANTHER 6x6 electric for Dallas, three prototypes have been produced and tested at in Austria, where Rosenbauer's international headquarters is located. 

What Can the PANTHER 6x6 Electric Do?

Rosenbauer first presented its series-ready concept vehicle of the PANTHER 6x6 electric in 2022 at the world's leading trade fair Interschutz in Hanover, Germany. 

The vehicle can accelerate purely electrically from 0 to 50 mph in under 25 seconds, according to Rosenbauer.

In “Boost Mode”, this acceleration can even be achieved in under 20 seconds. The vehicle has a low center of gravity and a chassis perfectly matched to the application to ensure good driving dynamics in every scenario.

The water pump can also be operated electrically at full capacity (2370 gpm).

All About the Battery

The electric drive platform developed by Rosenbauer for the PANTHER 6x6 electric, with its associated high-voltage batteries, provides sufficient energy for the two- to three-minute drive to the operation site, the discharge of the entire extinguishing agent, and the return trip.

This is in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

Initial tests with prototypes show that multiple operational or movement drives can be completed on a single battery charge. 

The ARFF vehicle combines the safety and functionality of the current generation with the advantages of electric mobility, such as a reduction in noise and emissions. 

Orders for the new PANTHER 6x6 electric have been available since October 2024. The first pre-series vehicles could be delivered as early as the end of 2025.

Aiming for Greener Operations

The City of Dallas' Aviation department intends to be emission-free by 2040. In order to achieve this goal, the existing fire station is being redesigned and rebuilt as part of the "DAL ARFF Station 21 Replacement" project. 

The new fire station at DAL will both be modernized and optimally positioned to minimize response times, and will be geared toward improving energy efficiency and sustainability. 

This also includes gradually replacing the fleet vehicles with vehicles with alternative drive systems.

Sebastian Wolf, CEO of Rosenbauer International, says "With the PANTHER 6x6 electric, we are setting a new benchmark in terms of performance and emission reduction in the field of airport firefighting vehicles. We are proud to test and deploy this new technology together with the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department." 

In May 2024, Dallas Love Field expanded to its carbon neutrality status and achieved Level 4 – Transformation in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Program. 

This made the airport, the busiest medium hub airport in the U.S., one of only five airports in the country, and one of two airports in Texas certified at Level 4 or higher in the Program. 

The self-funded city entity recently served over 17.6 million passengers in 2023, the most in its history, and is the sole funding source for this development. 

On average, the airport’s airfield accommodates 675 aircraft operations per day and ranks third busiest in private aircraft traffic.