London Ambulance Service (LAS) has secured £16.6 million in funding to purchase new ‘greener’ vehicles – set to make it the NHS Trust with the largest electric response fleet in the country.
The investment, £10 million of which will come from its commissioners, North West London ICS (Integrated Care System), will be used to purchase 225 new vehicles over the course of a year, including 40 new ambulances that are lighter and produce lower emissions than its current vehicles, 42 electric fast response cars, and three electric motorcycles. LAS will be the first service to use such electric motorbikes to respond to emergency calls.
The money will also fund a further 32 electric and hybrid vehicles for LAS teams working ‘behind the scenes’ to care for Londoners, such as those who travel around the capital to re-stock and deep clean ambulances before the next shift begins. It will also mean that 10% of London Ambulance Service’s ‘1,000-plus’ vehicles will be electric or plug-in hybrid electric. Where it is not possible to use hybrid or electric vehicles, new vehicles will comply with ULEZ.
London Ambulance Service’s Chief Executive, Daniel Elkeles, said: “Soon, we’ll have the largest electric response fleet in the country, which will benefit our staff, volunteers, and patients alike. Investing in our fleet of emergency vehicles, and making sure it is modern, sustainable, and resilient, is extremely important. As well as being greener and better for the environment, our new vehicles will help u provide better care for our patients.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s fantastic news that London Ambulance Service is now set to have the largest electric fleet in the country, playing a crucial part in ensuring that Londoners breathe cleaner air as part of my net zero 2030 ambition for the capital.”
LAS says the new vehicles will not only improve emissions and reduce fuel consumption, but also reduce muscular-skeletal injuries among staff and volunteers by introducing technology to improve patient care and staff safety, including a new power-loading system to move patients on board ambulances.
In line with the national specification, the new ambulances are more ‘inclusive’, with contrasting seat trims to help people with sight loss, and have several ‘dementia-friendly’ features, ‘to reduce stress and anxiety for people with these conditions’.
