Ambulance service expands UK’s largest electric ambulance fleet with 77 new vehicles

London Ambulance Service has added 77 new electric emergency vehicles to its frontline fleet, further strengthening what is now the UK’s largest fleet of fully electric ambulance vehicles.

The latest investment includes 37 fully electric ambulances and 40 electric fast response cars, taking the service’s total electric fleet to 41 ambulances, 81 fast response cars and three motorcycles.

The expansion forms part of the trust’s long-term commitment to replacing diesel vehicles with lower-emission alternatives as they reach the end of their operational life, supporting its transition towards a fully sustainable fleet.

Alongside reducing carbon emissions, the electric vehicles are also expected to improve operational efficiency. They are quicker to maintain, cheaper to run and more reliable than traditional diesel models, reducing the amount of time vehicles spend off the road by 75%.

Each electric ambulance is capable of completing a full 12-hour shift on a single charge, allowing crews to remain operational throughout their shift while responding to patients across the capital.

“The expansion marks a major milestone for us as we accelerate towards a carbon neutral fleet and deliver better healthcare for millions of Londoners.

“Expanding our electric fleet is a win for patients, and a win for London and the environment. These vehicles produce zero emissions and help to tackle air pollution that can worsen serious health conditions.

“They’re also more efficient to maintain, meaning more ambulances are available to respond when people need us most – while saving taxpayers’ money through lower running costs.”

Jason Killens KAM, Chief Executive, London Ambulance Service.

Around a quarter of London Ambulance Service’s 1,200-vehicle fleet can now operate using electric power, including both fully electric and hybrid vehicles.

The new ambulances and response cars are being introduced throughout the summer as the service continues to expand its charging infrastructure across London.

Last year, 288 electric vehicle charging points were installed across 18 ambulance stations, with more than a quarter of sites now fully equipped for electric vehicle charging. The service plans to install charging facilities at all of its sites by 2028.

The investment supports the ambitions set out in London Ambulance Service’s four-year Green Plan. Since 2022, the trust has reduced its carbon emissions by 12%, with a target of achieving a further 20% reduction by 2029.

Find out more about London Ambulance Service’s fleet transformation in Catherine Levin’s recent feature following a visit to the trust’s new Fleet Service Hub in East London.

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Rob Macintosh, Associate Director of Fleet at London Ambulance Service will be speaking at The Emergency Services Show on 17 September as part of the new Fleet of the Future stage. Join him and others from the ambulance service as they explore the issues and challenges of ambulance conversion and the drive to net zero. Register to attend here.