By EMS1 Staff
DHAKA, Bangladesh — A small, solar-powered ambulance is set to debut in rural areas of Bangladesh this year.
The ambulance is a small three-wheeled van that is equipped with the same features of the country’s standard ambulances. The ambulance will run on solar power during the day as well as the evening, reported Thomson Reuters Foundation News.
Manufacturers aim to launch the vehicle by the end of 2017.
The ambulance will provide better service to rural areas, where many patients are transported to hospitals in hand-pulled rickshaws. The ambulance’s smaller build will allow it to fit on narrow roads.
“I thought a low-cost ambulance service would be a good idea for these rural clinics. And by using solar power we can reduce operational costs and save the environment,” said A.K.M Abdul Malek Azad, a lead developer of the ambulance.
The ambulance will cost between $1,900 and $2,500; standard Bangladesh ambulances can cost at least $30,000. The ambulance can fit three people and travel up to 12 mph.
During the day, it is powered by four 100-watt solar panels on its roof; at night, it runs on four 12-volt batteries that are charged from the solar panels.