By Leila Merrill
BROOKFIELD, Wis. — The REV Group Inc., which includes companies that make multiple brands of ambulances, announced this week several new agreements for alternative fuel-powered rigs.
American Medical Response, a medical transportation services company, and its parent, Global Medical Response, have purchased five electric ambulances, and they have an option to purchase 25 more electric ambulances under the arrangement. The first vehicles for AMR are expected to be completed in April and will be delivered to five communities in California. According to the REV Group, this purchase represents one of the first battery electric ambulance orders from a major EMS provider in the U.S.
REV Ambulance Group Orlando, Inc., a subsidiary of REV Group, announced that its contract with the U.S. General Services Administration has been amended to include zero-emissions Battery Electric ambulances from Wheeled Coach and Leader.
The REV Group includes companies that manufacture Horton, AEV, Road Rescue, Wheeled Coach and Leader brand ambulances.
The GSA is the only source for non-tactical vehicles purchased by federal agencies in the United States. Agencies with access to this contract include the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Veterans Health Administration, the National Park Service and the Indian Health Services.
The ambulances for the above agreements are High Roof Ford T350 Transits, powered by Lightning eMotors, with 86kWh of battery capacity that can be charged via Level 2 AC charging or DC fast charging. The high roof and added length of the T350 increases the patient care space.
Hamad Medical Corporation, a not-for-profit health care provider in Qatar that operates the national ambulance service, is conducting an operational trial of a zero-emissions Battery Electric Type II ambulance. The ambulance was completed at Leader’s facility in South El Monte, California in partnership with ACETECH and Lightning eMotors.