Electric ambulances (EVS): green vehicles in line with sustainability
Electric vehicles (EVS) arrival of in medical transport is ongoing in many countries, even if end-users still have doubts about it. In terms of regulations, European organizations are not yet aligned and there are no certainties about special vehicles, as regulation EN1789 shows. The text does not refer to electric ambulances, even if they are already in the field in some European countries.
How would the arrival of EVS possibly be?
They would be more compact and sustainable vehicles, with a higher initial cost. Maybe this type of ambulance is not suitable for all services. Maybe emergency interventions would be excluded.
Long-distance transport
For long-distance transport, there are many aspects to consider. First of all, the timing of service will inevitably change in case of use of an electric vehicle. The electric ambulance also needs a battery charge, and this could increase the travel time. Moreover, the person must travel knowing in advance the type of transport to do. Operators must know where the charging stations are located in order to avoid any trouble. In particular, the rescue driver should pay attention to the drive style. The duration of the charge of electric vehicles varies based on road conditions and the type of vehicle but mainly on the speed. Then it is necessary to learn about new habits and increase one’s knowledge with dedicated practice.
Let’s see some examples of electric ambulances in Europe and outside!
To read an article Ambulance History: A Journey between England and America, click HERE!
Electric vehicle in medical transport in the UK: the case NHS
The British Healthcare Service (NHS) has released a new fleet of electric vehicles to alleviate mental health crises. It counts 21 zero-emission EV ambulances. In 2021 the NHS was planning to purchase full-electric vehicles. The idea was to be eco-friendly and to create 100 jobs. The Government had invested in lightweight, user-friendly, and technologically advanced vehicles for volunteers and paramedics. Greenambulances adoption contributes to reach a goal set by the British Government: from 2040 the British Healthcare Service (NHS) will have only zero-emission vehicles.
Electric vehicle (EVS) in medical transport in Europe: the case Profile
Also, Profile Vehicles is working to prevent pollution with its electric version of patient transport vehicle. From spring 2022 the eAdvanz is on a demo tour in different European countries: Netherlands. Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia are but the main stop-overs. eAdvanz vehicle has been successful and it was launched into production. Indeed, the first Profile Vehicles ambulance has been sold in Sweden to Samariten Ambulans AB.
The proposed solution has a range of around 300 km (as declared). In case of need, the vehicle can be fast-charged up to 100 km in only 15 minutes.
The words of a rescue-driver
Simone Filippini, fleet manager at Treviglio Red Cross (Bergamo, Italy), shares with “The Ems Blog” his point of view on rescue electric vehicles.
“I’d see the use of electric ambulances perfect for secondary transfers, but not for emergency services. Remember that the declared ranges refer to a constant use in terms of speed”. Electric ambulances are difficult to be used for emergency services as confirmed by the rescuers who fear that electric is not performant in stressful situations. On the other hand, Simone finds “perfect the use of an electric vehicle for secondary services, where we know in advance the distance in km and above all we have time to recharge the vehicle, considering that they are on-call services”.
Discharge of electric parts
According to a study published by the International Journal of Thermofluids, in 2030 there will be 125 million electric vehicles all over the world. In terms of emissions, these numbers lit a glimmer of hope. The possibility to prevent pollution in the life of more and more people seems to be real. But the question is: are we ready for the discharge and the following recycle of electric parts? Many studies report that today only 5% of lithium is recovered. The risk to accumulate harmful waste is real. Discharge technology should move a step forward to make this sustainable change possible. If we do not progress in recycle, all previous efforts and investments would be in vain.
These are but a few of several examples of organizations that moved forward toward the electrical holding out a hand to a much more sustainable future.
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