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 Chief (ret.) Michael Benson, MPA, EFO
Electric vehicles (EV) are taking over the automotive market with exponential growth in passenger vehicles, and now medium and heavy-duty trucks (including fire engines) are hitting the streets all over the world. Electric ambulances have also started to go into service, leading to the question: what do you need to know to be able to incorporate electric ambulances into your fleet?
| RESOURCE: Download your copy — EMS1 guide to ambulance electrification
EV options
There are two options if you want an electric ambulance in North America. Leader Ambulance, a division of REV Group, offers a Type II ambulance based on a Ford Transit chassis repowered to electric by Lightning eMotors. Demers Ambulance is bringing to production in 2024 the eFX ambulance, a Type III ambulance based on a Lion chassis. The Demers is a true custom ambulance, purpose built for use by EMS. It has features unavailable on a traditional chassis, because it takes advantage of native electric vehicle architecture to create a patient treatment area with many innovations. The Leader is less costly and has more availability today, because it is smaller and is based on an existing chassis and drivetrain.
The primary delay in seeing more electric ambulances is due to the lack of a supply chain for the specialty vehicle market. Passenger vehicles are getting the bulk of the batteries, electric motors and controllers first; however, that is changing quickly. Ford Motor Company now offers the E-Transit van chassis, and Mercedes has the eSprinter. Both of which are capable of supporting a type II ambulance. The Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck is also available, Chevrolet’s Silverado EV just hit the market and Ram plans to have an EV ready in the next 12 months. All of these pickup trucks may be able to support a Type I ambulance.
Charging support
Electric passenger vehicles are cheaper to own compared to their internal combustion counterparts when you consider the total cost of ownership. It is expected EV ambulances will also become less expensive to own and operate than gas or diesel fueled vehicles, primarily because electricity is a much cheaper fuel, and EVs do not require as much maintenance.
As soon as you start thinking about adding an electric vehicle to your fleet, however, you also need to think about the energy system required to support that EV.
Electric fleet vehicles need EV Supply Equipment (EVSE), also known as “chargers” you need to install at your station. There are three different levels of EVSE: Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast charging.
- Level 1 charging is simply a wall outlet. You probably already plug your ambulances into a circuit like this to keep your on-board equipment charged. This is not enough power to charge an EV. It could take 24-48 hours to fill up your battery.
- Level 2 charging uses a 240V circuit like the ones large appliances are plugged into. These circuits are typically between 30 and 80 amps, which provides enough power to fill up your EV in 5-10 hours. This level works for agencies who park their ambulances after a shift, and let them charge overnight, or agencies who provide scheduled local ambulance trips. Most agencies start with this level of charging for non-mission-critical EVs.
- If you are responsible to provide 24/7 emergency response, you must have high power direct current (DC) fast charging. A DC fast charger will fill up your EV to an 80% state of charge (SOC) in minutes, not hours. It is not easy to put one of these in your facility. You must already have or install a 480-volt, three phase electrical service with hundreds of amps available to accommodate a commercial DC fast charger rated at 100 to 150 kilowatts (kW). If the size of your ambulance battery pack is 100-200 kilowatt-hours (kWh), you will be able to fill up to 80% SOC in 30-60 minutes. This new system and equipment can be expensive, and peak demand rates and hot weather can increase costs.
Another option is to build a microgrid. A microgrid is a miniature version of the electric grid with energy generation, storage and distribution controlled locally. For example, if you add solar panels to your roof and parking lot, and connect them to a battery next to your building, you will have the capacity to rapidly charge your electric ambulance at 250 kW, 350 kW, even up to a megawatt (MW). Your microgrid will also operate as an energy island when the power goes out, making it a resource during disaster conditions.
The cost for microgrids can be offset by the energy they produce and the discounts available for these systems from the Inflation Reduction Act. These systems generate energy, so they also create value; this makes it possible in many cases to build them with no capital expense using energy-as-a-service financing.
Electric ambulances may come with an up-front cost premium today, but in addition to improving your carbon footprint and sustainability, you will realize the savings as they require less maintenance and your fuel costs drop. It is time to think about adding EV ambulances to your fleet and how you will support them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Benson is co-owner of Command Consulting LLC, focusing on municipal electrification. He is a retired public safety professional with 30 years of experience innovating for local and regional governments, improving services and lowering costs. Chief (ret) Benson has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College, a Professional Certificate in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies from Stanford, and he drives an electric car.
This article, originally published in April 2024, has been updated.
