NZ reveals first electric ambulance

Adedicated battery electric vehicle has joined the local ambulance fleet, representing not only a first for New Zealand — but also a first for Australasia.

Based on an electric Ford E-Transit, the plug-in ambulance was donated to the group by ASB Bank, forming part of the Hato Hone St John organisation’s push to reduce its emissions.

In a social media post, the organisation confirmed that the ETransit was assembled and tested in Hamilton, with further frontline testing in the Waikato to come over the coming year.

“ASB Bank has kindly gifted this EV emergency ambulance to us after more than two years of planning, designing and assembling this custom-built vehicle at Action Manufacturing in Hamilton,” said Hato Hone St John in a social media post.

“The vehicle will be trialled over the next year to test its range and capabilities to see whether it is a viable and sustainable option for us on our journey to reduce our emissions.”

Hato Hone St John Head of Service Improvement and Sustainability, Dr Colin Tan said that the move was part of a wider plan for the organisation to halve its emissions output by the end of the decade. “We are the first emergency service in Australasia to trial the feasibility of an electric emergency ambulance,” Dr Tan said. “A priority to achieving this is optimising and transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles, which are cleaner, quieter, and more economical to run,” he said.

Should the E-Transit evaluation prove successful, more electric ambulances could be on the cards for the 1300-strong Hato Hone St John vehicle fleet.

The Ford E-Transit comes with

a 75kWh battery, a 198kW/430Nm motor, and a claimed range of 250km range.

This range figure is likely to take a slight hit in ambulance trim,

given the additional weight of any emergency equipment and lights. The length of the average metropolitan shift is approximately 180km per 12-hour shift.

The electric Transit would only be used for 12-hour shifts, and that a contingency vehicle will always be available.

Whilst a standard E-Transit is priced between $94,990 and $106,990, the Hato Hone St John ETransit ambulance cost ASB Bank $290,000.

Photo: Waikato Herald (From left) Dr Colin Tan, Cameron Brill from Hato Hone St John (centre), with ASB'S Carrie Gage (right), at the blessing ceremony for the EV ambulance, held in Waikato.

Photo: Supplied NZ revealed its first electric ambulance.