Welsh Ambulance Service to prioritise electric and hybrid

A £22.45 million investment by the Welsh government will see more than 140 new ambulances and vehicles added to the fleet, as part of the first phase of a five-year Welsh Ambulance Services fleet strategy.

The strategy, running until 2030, will prioritise electric and hybrid vehicles, where viable, to reduce carbon emissions, and includes all vehicles operated by the Welsh Ambulance Service, even the Non-emergency Patient Transport Service.

The announcement of 142 new ambulances and vehicles coincides with the Welsh Ambulance Service’s change in the way it responds to serious 999 emergency calls. The improvements will come in from July, and are designed to save more lives and improve people’s outcomes following a cardiac arrest, a serious illness, incident, or accident.

Executive director of finance and corporate resources at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Chris Turley said: “We’re very grateful to the Welsh government for the continual investment, which enables us to operate a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose fleet.

“Embracing the latest technologies and innovations whilst working in partnership with staff and trade union partners is essential to provide the best possible experience for patients, as well as an ergonomically-friendly working environment for staff, who spend the majority of their working day aboard these vehicles.

“As the national ambulance service for Wales, spread over an area of 8,000 square miles, improving air quality is something we’re very committed to, so these cleaner and greener vehicles reinforce our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint in alignment with the Welsh government’s net zero strategic plan.”