The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is steering its commitment to patient care and environmental responsibility to new heights with the introduction of cutting-edge hybrid vehicles.
Harrow and the rest of London are set to benefit from these eco-friendly innovations, as LAS aims to create the greenest fleet of response vehicles in the country.
A total of 65 hybrid vehicles have been added to LAS’s impressive lineup. These vehicles, which operate on a blend of petrol and electric power, offer more than just reduced carbon emissions.
They come equipped with modern features designed to enhance patient care. One of the standout capabilities is the ability to charge vital medical equipment such as defibrillators and suction units on the go.
Furthermore, motion sensors eliminate the need for traditional keys to access medical equipment stored in the vehicle’s trunk.
Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive at London Ambulance Service (LAS), said: “We’re continuing to modernise our fleet and improve the health of Londoners with these new hybrid electric vehicles, which are better for the air in our city, our medics and our patients.
“We want to be a greener and more sustainable organisation and that’s why we’re scaling up our fleet of green and energy-efficient vehicles. We are making great progress on the road to zero emissions with value for money.”
Of the new response cars, 51 will be used by clinical managers to get to incidents. The remaining 14 vehicles are being rolled out for advanced paramedics and Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response teams (EPRR), who treat patients at major incidents and in dangerous environments.
Rob Macintosh, Head of Fleet at LAS, said: “Every second counts in an emergency and energy-efficient technology will make it even easier for our responders to reach patients faster whilst helping to make the capital a greener and healthier place for Londoners.
“Greener vehicles are vital for our staff and communities and we have already invested £31 million to introduce brand new low-emission vehicles, create electric charging points, upgrade our infrastructure and recruit more mechanics to maintain these vehicles as part of our mission to move to a net-zero emissions fleet by 2030.”
The new LAS fleet includes a mix of Volvo XC90s, XC60s, and Ford Kugas, all part of the LAS’s ambitious £31 million investment program.
This program, already having led to the deployment of the largest fully-electric fast-response car fleet in the UK, underlines LAS’s unwavering commitment to sustainable healthcare.
