£16.6 million to decarbonise London Ambulance fleet

London Ambulance Service has secured £16.6 million in funding to purchase new greener vehicles, in a move that is expected to make it the NHS trust with the largest electric response fleet in the country.

The investment will be used to purchase 225 new vehicles over the course of a year, including 40 new ambulances that are lighter and produce lower emissions than our current vehicles, as well as 42 electric fast response cars and three electric motorcycles.

The latter will make London Ambulance Service the first service to use such electric motorbikes to respond to emergency calls.

The service has also said that the funding will also produce a further 32 electric and hybrid vehicles for London Ambulance Service teams who work ‘behind the scenes’, such as those who deep clean ambulances before the next busy shift begins.

London Ambulance Service has reassured that where it is not possible to use hybrid or electric vehicles, new vehicles will comply with ULEZ, but that the move will ensure that 10 per cent of London Ambulance Service’s 1,000-plus vehicles will be electric or plug-in hybrid electric.

Daniel Elkeles, London Ambulance Service’s chief executive, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be boosting our fleet with these greener vehicles. Soon, we’ll have the largest electric response fleet in the country, which will benefit our staff, volunteers and patients alike.

“Investing in our fleet of emergency vehicles and making sure it is modern, sustainable and resilient is extremely important. As well as being greener and better for the environment, our new vehicles will help us to provide better care for our patients.”