NHS Trust unveils first all-electric ambulance as it embraces green transport

Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire has unveiled its first all-electric, non-emergency ambulance.

The ambulance represents an investment of more than £86,000, as the hospital ushers in a clean and green way to transport patients.

The all-electric ambulance will be used to transport patients needing tests and scans, as well as those requiring admission to or transfer between wards.

It is the first fully electric patient transport ambulance to be used at a hospital in the Humber, and is believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

David Wilkinson, Transport Manager for NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “We already have a fleet of electric vehicles which transports goods and samples between Castle Hill and Hull Royal Infirmary, but this is the first time we’ve invested in an electric vehicle for the movement of patients.

The new all-electric ambulance at Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire.

“The ambulance is fully equipped with a load area which can accommodate both beds and wheelchairs, and can carry one stretcher and three seated patients at a time.

“As a fully electric vehicle, it’s cheaper, greener, and more efficient. The vehicle doesn’t create exhaust fumes, we don’t have to travel to refuel, we can charge on site for a fraction of the cost of diesel, and the ambulance is less likely to be off the road for maintenance as there are fewer moving parts to go wrong.”

Castle Hill Hospital is taking positive steps to reduce its environmental impact. The all-electric ambulance forms an important part of that broader sustainability commitment.

It complements the hospital’s existing fleet of electric vehicles, and will make a positive different to both patients and staff.