Ambulance service unveils first fully electric vehicles

The Welsh Ambulance Service has unveiled its first fully electric vehicles. Ten MAXUS eDELIVER 5 vehicles have now entered service as part of the Trust’s ambition to reduce its carbon footprint.

A further 20 Ford Transit Custom plug-in hybrid vehicles complete the hi-tech new additions to the 800-strong fleet, thanks to a £22.4m investment by Welsh Government in replacement vehicles.

It is expected that the vehicles will continue to drive down CO2 from diesel emissions and improve the experience of patients and staff.

“These vehicles represent a major step forward not just in sustainability, but in comfort and safety. They’re equipped with a range of driver assistance technologies, like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and blind spot assist, all of which help reduce driver fatigue and enable our crews to focus fully on patient care.

“We’re immensely proud of these cleaner and greener vehicles, which support both our own decarbonisation agenda and Welsh Government’s goal for a carbon net zero public sector by 2030.”

David Holmes, Fleet Manager, Welsh Ambulance Service.

The single responder vehicles, which will be used predominantly by Advanced Paramedic Practitioners and Cymru High Acuity Response Unit paramedics, can be found pan-Wales, including in Wrexham, Aberystwyth, Gelli, Bryncethin, Neath, Swansea, Blackwood and Cardiff.

Instead of relying on traditional fuel to remain operational, paramedics will be able to re-charge their vehicles at numerous charging points at stations across Wales.

“As the national ambulance service for Wales, improving air quality is a key priority for us, not just for our people and patients but for the wellbeing of communities across Wales, now and in the future.

“With demand on our service increasing year-on-year, it’s more important than ever to have an efficient fleet which literally keeps the wheels turning on our ambulance service. We’d like to extend a sincere thanks to Welsh Government and to colleagues across the service who have collaborated to make this possible.”

Ed Roberts, Acting Director of Finance, Welsh Ambulance Service.

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