Silicon Startup Tropos Able FRV Is The Micro-Fire Truck Of The Future
January 21th, 2020 BY JULYBIEN ATADERO
To suit the Able FRV for its firefighting duties, it can be customized to deliver a range of up to 120 miles at a speed of 25 mph.
Firefighting duties aren’t always delegated to large fire trucks. Smaller fire trucks – despite their limited water-carrying capacity – are useful especially when firefighters need to drive through smaller roads or alleys already covered with smoke. Tropos Motors, a Silicon Valley-based startup, is offering a small electric firefighting vehicle that can greatly complement larger trucks on fire scenes – the new Tropos Able FRV.
Tropos Able Electric Low-Speed Vehicle
The new Tropos Able FRV (Fire Response Vehicle) is one of the available applications offered by Tropos Motors for its Able electric low-speed vehicle (e-LSV). Employing the latest EV technology, expert engineering and modern design, the Tropos Able can be customized for fleet, agriculture, delivery and even construction applications. It can be an emergency service vehicle, a pickup, a cargo truck or a firefighting vehicle such as the Able FRV.
You can choose between two models – the Able ST and the Able XR. The Able ST is the standard model, with a public road payload and towing capacities of 1,100 lbs. and 2,000 lbs., respectively. Being an e-LSV, it has an electronically limited top speed of 25 mph, with the ability to reach 20 mph from a standstill in under six seconds. Its 32-hp electric motor gets its juice from a gel lead acid battery, for a range of up to 50 miles when travelling a speeds of 25 mph.
Meanwhile, the Able XR is basically the same as the Able ST. The main difference is the all-electric range. Thanks to its lithium ion battery pack, the Able XR can travel up to 160 miles at speeds of up to 25 mph.
Small But Capable
As a fire response vehicle, the Able FRV is well-equipped. It features a Kimtek Firelite Transport FDHP-301-125 unit – a 125-gallon unit tank that complies with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards. In addition, the Able FRV comes with an electric rewind Hannay 4000 series reel as well as Scotty Around-the-Pump class-A foam system with a five-gallon foam cell.
With a height of just 6 feet and 5 inches, the Able FRV complies with height restrictions that allow it to enter most parking garages -- meaning it can operate indoors for a swift, timely and safe response as complemented by the right equipment and tools. It also boasts an ultra-tight turning radius of just 12.5 feet. Sans the typical fire engine, the Able FRV is a zero-emission firefighting unit.
120 Miles Of Electric Range
To suit the Able FRV for its firefighting duties, it can be customized to deliver a range of up to 120 miles, with an estimated fuel consumption rate of 144 MPGe. It can also go as fast as 40 mph on a closed circuit. There is no underestimating the capability of this small firefighting truck.
