Peugeot has released pictures of a new concept fire engine christened H2O. The company describes it as two vehicles in one – a concept showing the effectiveness of fuel cell technology, and a vehicle for fire fighting which can be used for reconnaissance in areas within towns and cities which are difficult for large vehicles to access.
The H2O is an electric vehicle with batteries, fitted with an auxiliary unit consisting of a fuel cell. The PSA Peugeot Citroën group first showed this technology in a Taxi PAC (PAC = pile à combustible, which is the French term for a fuel cell) demonstrator vehicle in June 2001. This latest concept has is equipped with an auxiliary power unit which provides a continuous source of electrical energy to supply various emergency items of equipment such as the pumps, smoke extractors, communication systems and electric sockets.
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To allow the H2O to continue to operate in situations where visibility might be severely reduced due to smoke, the vehicle is fitted with proximity sensors in the bumpers and a radar system incorporated in the front panel.
Peugeot describes the H2O as a fully operational fire-fighting vehicle, equipped with suitable technological equipment. The vehicle was developed in consultation with fire-fighters.
The front of the vehicle looks typically Peugeot with its feline style front end. The rear of the passenger compartment is designed for two people, with a tank and telescopic ladder located across the top, as well as output sockets and connections appropriate to this type of fire fighting vehicle.
