The electric ambulance rollout is the first out of twelve planned for London Ambulance Service.
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London’s first fully electric ambulance to respond to emergency calls across the capital has been unveiled.
This latest addition forms part of a £16.6m investment into London Ambulance Services’ (LAS) aims of having a greener fleet of emergency vehicles and improving London’s air quality overall.
Additional features include an integrated scanning system that lets paramedics know whether the ambulance is fully stocked and more accessible ways to carry patients with a powered trolley bed system and powered carry chair.
Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive at LAS, said: “This is a game changer for ambulance designs across the world.
“We’ve had electric patient transport vehicles and support vehicles, but until now we haven’t had an electric ambulance responding to life-threatening emergencies in London.
“Not only will these ambulances help us deliver outstanding care to our patients, they are critical to our efforts to cut our environmental impact and play our part [in] improving London’s air quality.”
The electric ambulance joins LAS’ 160 zero emission capable vehicles. Credit: London Ambulance Service.
How reliable is the battery capacity in the electric ambulance?
However, since the announcement, some concerns have been made on X, formerly known as Twitter, regarding the electric ambulance’s charge time, long distance emergency patient transfers and accessibility to charging points.
The Service says there is enough battery capacity to keep the electric ambulance operational through each 12-hour shift.
Electric vehicle charging ports are also being installed at hospitals, including Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital and Kings College Hospital.
LAS has a total of 56 charging ports at ambulance stations for its electric vehicles.
So far, LAS’ green fleet consists of 42 fully-electric fast-response cars and three electric motorcycles out of 160 zero emission capable vehicles in total.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I have a bold ambition for London to reach net zero carbon by 2030 and London Ambulance Service, with the largest net zero fleet of emergency vehicles in the UK, is playing its part in helping us to build better, greener London for everyone.”
Four more electric ambulances will be joining the fleet later in the year.
These ambulances will be the first set of 12 to be piloted with LAS and four other ambulance trusts.
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HeadlineLondon’s first fully electric ambulance to respond to emergencies rolls out
Short HeadlineLondon’s first fully electric ambulance rolls out
StandfirstThe electric ambulance’s battery power allows it to stay operational through 12-hour shifts and is the first of a wider rollout plan.
London’s first fully electric ambulance to respond to emergency calls across the capital has been unveiled.
This latest addition forms part of a £16.6m investment into London Ambulance Services’ (LAS) aims of having a greener fleet of emergency vehicles and improving London’s air quality overall.
Additional features include an integrated scanning system that lets paramedics know whether the ambulance is fully stocked and more accessible ways to carry patients with a powered trolley bed system and powered carry chair.
Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive at LAS, said: “This is a game changer for ambulance designs across the world.
“We’ve had electric patient transport vehicles and support vehicles, but until now we haven’t had an electric ambulance responding to life-threatening emergencies in London.
“Not only will these ambulances help us deliver outstanding care to our patients, they are critical to our efforts to cut our environmental impact and play our part [in] improving London’s air quality.”
The electric ambulance joins LAS’ 160 zero emission capable vehicles. Credit: London Ambulance Service.
How reliable is the battery capacity in the electric ambulance?
However, since the announcement, some concerns have been made on X, formerly known as Twitter, regarding the electric ambulance’s charge time, long distance emergency patient transfers and accessibility to charging points.
The Service says there is enough battery capacity to keep the electric ambulance operational through each 12-hour shift.
Electric vehicle charging ports are also being installed at hospitals, including Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital and Kings College Hospital.
LAS has a total of 56 charging ports at ambulance stations for its electric vehicles.
So far, LAS’ green fleet consists of 42 fully-electric fast-response cars and three electric motorcycles out of 160 zero emission capable vehicles in total.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I have a bold ambition for London to reach net zero carbon by 2030 and London Ambulance Service, with the largest net zero fleet of emergency vehicles in the UK, is playing its part in helping us to build better, greener London for everyone.”
Four more electric ambulances will be joining the fleet later in the year.
These ambulances will be the first set of 12 to be piloted with LAS and four other ambulance trusts.
