Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the digital edition, “EMS1’s Guide to Ambulance Electrification.” Learn more and download your copy here.
By David Wright, DHPE, PA-C, NRP, FAEMS; and Kate Randolph, BS, PA-S
For years, the major automotive manufacturers have developed police pursuit rated vehicles (PPVs) or special services vehicles (SSVs), such as the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Police Interceptor, Dodge Durango and Charger. Many fire and EMS agencies have utilized these purpose built vehicles as command, staff and special purpose vehicles.
In 2023, Ford released the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, a purpose built 100% special service vehicle. In addition to this, Ford developed a SSV version of the Mustang Mach E. This comes after a Mustang Mach E was tested and approved as a patrol vehicle by the Michigan State Police in their annual Police Vehicle Testing.
Many police departments are utilizing electric vehicles, including the NYPD.
In an interview with the Police Chief of Bargersville, Indiana, he stated “We’ve been using Tesla EV’s as patrol cars since 2019, and charging has never been a problem”. They have charging stations at their headquarters where they charge the vehicles between shifts. It was also noted that the department reports saving up to $6,700 on fuel costs every year over the five EV patrol cars.
Hyattsville (Maryland) Police Department (HPD), operates a fleet that includes a fully-electric 2017 Chevrolet Bolt and three Ford hybrids.
The Mustang Mach E has also been spotted in multiple police agencies, including Montgomery County, Michigan; New Albany, Indiana; Bellevue, Nebraska; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Westchester County, New York.
The Salam (MA) Police placed a 2022 Ford F-150 lightning in service patrolling the streets.
Current EMS vehicle usage
Despite there being a very good possibility that most EMS vehicles could be EVs, there is definitely not the same adoption of EVs in EMS that we see in law enforcement or the general public. However, some agencies are beginning to purchase EVs.
- The Durham Fire Department replaced BC2, a battalion chief vehicle, with a Ford Mustang Mach E in 2022, with plans to upfit it with emergency warning systems.
- Austin Travis County EMS OMD purchased a Ford F150 lightning.
- Contra Costa County Fire purchased two Rivian R1Ts with plans to upfit with emergency lights and sirens.
- Dr. Ben Abo, the director of the Venom One and Venom Two response teams of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Lake County Fire Rescue in Florida, and the on-site medical director for the History Channel’s “Kings of Pain,” uses an electric Rivian R1T as his primary response vehicle, equipped with emergency lights.
The potential for EV expansion is ripe. There is the old adage in EMS that states, “if you’ve seen one EMS system, you’ve seen one EMS system.” This saying can be applied to the individual vehicle usage within a system. For this evaluation, we are looking at staff and quick response vehicles (non ambulances), and as with everything else, there is a large variance in distance traveled per shift.
This is likely contributed to the different assignments given to each of the vehicle crews. Obviously, a vehicle used by an on duty, response ready duty officer is going to be used much more and in a different capacity than a vehicle utilized by the agency chief, training officer or medical director.
Consider:
- West County EMS and Fire, St. Louis County. A midwestern fire-based agency that covers 21 square miles, and responds to 7,000 calls for service per year uses their duty vehicles in and around their coverage area. Over a 6-month period, 10 of the 11 staff vehicles operated drove less than 10,000 miles. That’s less than 56 miles average per day – well below the standard range of any electric vehicle for public safety use. Over this time, the fire chief averaged approximately 46 miles per day; the assistant chief, 30 miles per day; the on-shift duty officer, 25 miles per day; and the training officer, 34 miles per day.
- Washington University EMS, St. Louis. The local physician response agency provides response vehicles to fellowship trainee physicians to respond to calls with their assigned agencies. Over the past year, when working a field response shift, they averaged approximately 8-hour days, responding constantly to calls, and drove an average of 84 miles per shift.
- Christian Hospital EMS, St Louis. A large, hospital-based EMS system, operates eight ALS 911 response ambulances over approximately 170 square miles. The data from three vehicles was analyzed and over a 4-month period, the chief drove approximately 20 miles per day, the on-duty supervisor drove 49 miles per day and the ALS response vehicle that responds with three BLS 911-response ambulances traveled approximately 44 miles per day.
In 2020, the Eugene Springfield Fire Department launched a pilot program with electric vehicle company Arcimoto to test the Rapid Responder, a compact, three-wheeled electric vehicle designed to quickly reach emergencies.
Photos/Courtesy Arcimoto
In 2020, the Eugene Springfield Fire Department launched a pilot program with electric vehicle company Arcimoto to test the Rapid Responder, a compact, three-wheeled electric vehicle designed to quickly reach emergencies.
Photos/Courtesy Arcimoto
In 2020, the Eugene Springfield Fire Department launched a pilot program with electric vehicle company Arcimoto to test the Rapid Responder, a compact, three-wheeled electric vehicle designed to quickly reach emergencies.
Photos/Courtesy Arcimoto
Potential for the future
The potential for the future is endless. While the U.S. government is trying to eliminate gas-powered vehicles by 2035, the answer may not be that simple. Electrification of the automotive world is a hot topic. It is possible and very probable that the integration of electric vehicles will happen in the realm of public safety. More police, fire and EMS vehicles will be hybrid and fully electric EVs, and so far, many of the staff vehicles are capable of doing that.
There is obviously a long way to go for the infrastructure of charging stations to support more EVs on the road. But this isn’t the case for many of the EMS districts discussed here. Rural districts will likely face more challenges than urban/suburban ones, and may take longer to adopt electrification.
Districts wishing to analyze the suitability of an EV conversion will have to look at many aspects of their vehicle use to make the most appropriate decision for their individual agency.
Benefits and challenges to implementation
As with any new technology or innovation in the world of medicine, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits of implementation of new programs. The same is true for EMS adoption of electric vehicles.
Challenges include:
- Costs associated with installing level 2 charging stations
- Access to level-3 DC fast chargers
- Range concerns for vehicles with large response distances
- Decreased range in cold environments
Benefits of EMS EV implementation include:
- Long-term fuel saving
- Decreased routine maintenance
- Decreased patient transport costs (due to lower vehicle operating costs)
- Improved emissions footprint
As with any other change, it will take time and effort to adopt and acclimate to new processes and procedures. This is not the first time public safety agencies have changed the fuel source for their modes of transportation, and may not be the last time.
While there is the potential for a significant upfront investment in this technology, there are clearly numerous benefits if the adoption makes sense for the agency. Just like any new technology or product, the adoption of electric EMS vehicles is likely a matter of determining if the transition is the right choice for your system at this time.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Kate Randolph, PA-S, graduated with honors from Central Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She currently holds multiple certifications and is active in EMS research. She currently attends Stephens College PA program in Columbia, Missouri. She has great interest in emergency medicine, pediatrics and neurology. She is also an active member of NAEMSP, advocating for the PA profession in EMS.
This article, originally posted in April 2024, has been updated.
