East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has replaced all of its non-emergency vehicles in Derbyshire with the fully electric Kia e-Niro.
The move should help to reduce the NHS Trust’s emissions by 96 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
EMAS began its search for a sustainable EV for its Derbyshire non-emergency patient transport service (NEPTS) cars three years ago. The trust tested a number of vehicles before implementing the Kia e-Niro.
The ambulance service has now taken delivery of 16 e-Niro’s which will be used to attend patients in Derbyshire who need non-emergency medical or clinical support to get to and from their healthcare appointments.
This latest rollout of electric vehicles at EMAS is part of the organisation’s ongoing commitment to becoming a net zero trust by 2040.
“The car is capable of up to 282 miles when fully charged and our NEPTS vehicles complete 90 miles per day on average, meaning one charge should last a day without the need to charge again,” said Steve Farnsworth, assistant director of operational support at EMAS.
“We are constantly evaluating the electric vehicle offering that is available, which is changing and improving with new products being launched year on year. These vehicles have an excellent range and the manufacturer is very much established in this field of technology.”
All Kia e-Niro NEPTS vehicles are fitted with satellite navigation as standard which can alert EMAS staff to the nearest available charging station when required.
Commenting on the new Kia e-Niro fleet, Jenny Revill, clinical lead for NEPTS in Derbyshire said, “The cars are smooth to drive, have a quiet ride and respond well to different traffic conditions.
“They are very comfortable for staff, which is important for 12-hour shifts, and the patients that have used them have given positive feedback – especially on getting in and out of the vehicle for those with mobility challenges.”
Kia recently launched the second-generation e-Niro under the new name Niro EV. With a slightly larger 64.8kWh battery the Niro EV can achieve 285 miles of range between chargers and starts from £34,995.
The Korean firm currently offers three electric vehicles, but is hoping to sell 14 electric models globally by 2027.
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