London Ambulance Service (LAS) NHS Trust has secured £16 million in funding to purchase new greener vehicles.
The investment, £10 million of which will be provided by North West London ICS (Integrated Care System), will be used to purchase 225 new vehicles over the period of a year.
Included within the fleet of new vehicles is 40 new ambulances that are ‘lighter’ and produce ‘less emissions’ than current operating vehicles, as well as 42 electric response cars and three electric motorbikes.
The Ambulance service will be the first UK service to use the electric motorbikes to respond to emergency calls, the trust says.
Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive, LAS, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be boosting our fleet with these greener vehicles. Soon, we’ll have the largest electric response fleet in the country, which will benefit our staff, volunteers, and patients alike.
“Investing in our fleet of emergency vehicles and making sure it is modern, sustainable, and resilient is extremely important. As well as being greener and better for the environment, our new vehicles will help us to provide better care for our patients.”
Sadiq Khan, The Mayor of London, said of the new vehicles: “It’s fantastic news that London Ambulance Service is now set to have the largest electric fleet in the country, playing a crucial part in ensuring Londoners breathe cleaner air as part of my net zero 2030 ambition for the capital.
“As well as being greener and better for the environment and health of all Londoners, the new fleet of vehicles will introduce technology to improve patient care and staff safety – demonstrating the value of modernisation and sustainability at the heart of our public services.”
