Fifty-five new emergency ambulances will take to the North West’s roads before the end of January 2022, replacing older vehicles in the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) fleet.
The emergency vehicles are greener and more efficient than their predecessors. Built to Euro 6 standards, they produce fewer harmful pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides, Carbon Monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter.
Converted from Fiat Ducato vans, the new ambulances are replacements for existing vehicles over seven years old. However, 45 of the old fleet will stay on the run until the end of winter to help maximise the service’s fleet at the busiest time of year, thanks to a funding boost received to assist with winter pressures.
Stations in Greater Manchester will get 29 new ambulances and 17 retained, Cumbria and Lancashire will get 24 new and 13 retained, and Cheshire and Merseyside will get two new vehicles and retain 15 existing ambulances.
It takes approximately 400 hours to convert a standard Fiat Ducato van into a high-specification emergency ambulance. This installing electricity, creating windows in the side panels, fitting the blue lights and sirens and applying livery to make them instantly recognisable as ambulances.
