Australasia's first electric ambulance proves faster, cleaner and quieter

Australasia’s first electric emergency ambulance has delivered strong results in its first year on the road, proving to be faster, cleaner and quieter than a traditional diesel ambulance.   

Launched in Waikato in April 2024, the electric vehicle (EV) ambulance trial was made possible through funding from ASB. A new one-year report evaluating its performance shows the vehicle has met — and in some areas exceeded — expectations.   

Hato Hone St John Head of Service Improvement and Sustainability Dr Colin Tan, says the report assessed the ambulance’s performance in a metropolitan setting, including energy consumption, reliability, operational range and patient and crew comfort.   

“We’re very grateful to ASB for its support in enabling this important work. It’s been a genuine journey of discovery. Over the past year we’ve tested what’s possible, addressed new challenges, and gathered data that informs us of the capability and use case for an EV Ambulance,” Dr Tan says.   

“While we anticipated the vehicle would perform well, the results have exceeded expectations. Importantly, it has delivered fuel savings and emissions reductions without compromising response capability or patient care.”   

In its first year of operation, the EV ambulance:   

The insights from the trial have helped define minimum requirements and operational thresholds to inform future fleet transition decisions.   

“As the first electric emergency ambulance for Hato Hone St John — and the first of its kind in Australasia — this represents a significant step forward, not just in how emergency vehicles are powered, but in how we design for the future,” Dr Tan says.   

The initiative forms part of Hato Hone St John’s broader efforts to reducing emissions and contributing to New Zealand’s net zero carbon goal by 2050. Road vehicles are a significant source of the organisation’s operational emissions, making fleet transition a natural area of focus.   

The ambulance will now enter its next testing phase in Canterbury, where it will be based in Lyttelton.   

“We’ve chosen Lyttelton to better understand how the vehicle performs in colder conditions and more rural, hilly terrain, including around Banks Peninsula,” Dr Tan says.   
 
ASB General Manager Sustainability Carrie Gage says the bank is proud to support the initiative as part of its long-standing partnership with Hato Hone St John.  

“We were confident in the potential to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining the highest standards of patient care, and the results are encouraging.  

“This project demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can support a healthier, more sustainable future. We’re excited about the broader impact this work could have across other sectors working toward similar goals.” 

View the full EV Ambulance 1-Year report at https://www.stjohn.org.nz/news--info/ev-ambulance-trial/ 

ENDS   

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Hato Hone St John media team