Houston Fire Department Tests Eco-Friendly EMS Unit

The Houston Fire Department will transition from the current on-board gas generator to a “green” lithium battery solution that will provide mobile power while the engine is off.

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May 5, 2021

Houston Fire Department Tests Eco-Friendly EMS Unit — The new technology from Harrison Hydra-gen is an integrated hPower, belt-driven AC power system designed to continually charge a battery pack that supplies power to the rear ambulance compartment.
*Photo: Houston Fire Department*

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With every new ambulance purchase, the Houston Fire Department (HFD) will transition from the current on-board gas generator to a “green” lithium battery solution that will provide mobile power while the engine is off. By the end of the year, the department is projected to have 15 units equipped with this eco-friendly battery option.

The new technology from Harrison Hydra-gen is an integrated hPower, belt-driven AC power system designed to continually charge a battery pack that supplies power to the rear ambulance compartment. This eco-friendly structure is compatible with existing ambulance models. This transition also reduces the risk of potential carbon monoxide exposures to both the patient care compartment and the cab of the ambulance.

Other benefits of this system include:

Simpler mounting
Voice annunciation/status alerts
Central vehicle connection interface
Hinged access panel (fuses/relays)
5000-watt capability
24-volt dual cell model
Remote mounted display (cab)

Topics:City of Houston First Responders Fire Fleet Battery-Electric Vehicles lithium-ion batteries Green Fleet

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