Electric Ambulance: Paving The Way For Cleantech System
More so than ever, the healthcare industry is adopting new technologies to provide immediate and efficient emergency response assistance. Gone are the days when patients had to wait for hours before an ambulance reached their location. Today, emergency healthcare providers have a team of trained paramedics and drivers, and a well-equipped ambulance fleet of ambulances that ensures quality assistance at all hours of the day.
While an increase in the number of ambulances contributes to saving lives, it's equally important to introduce cleantech in vehicles for a healthy environment and people’s well-being. Introducing electric ambulances in India could be revolutionary for the emergency response industry because of its multifold benefits for the environment, Industry and people alike.
The Covid-19 pandemic pushed us to rethink environmental degradation and poor air quality. The government of India plans to give over $ 3.5 billion in incentives to auto companies to boost the manufacturing and export of clean technology vehicles. Now the point of focus is that if consumer vehicles can be electrified, the same technology can be used for ambulances too. In fact, countries like the UK, Japan, and Norway have already taken steps to cut down on pollution by introducing electric ambulances, and their large-scale adoption in India is not far behind.
Multi-Fold Benefits of Electric Ambulances for Health & Well-Being
Improved Patient Experience
Electric vehicles (EVs) are quicker and quieter than traditional vehicles that run on fuel. Since electric vehicles produce less noise and vibrations, they provide a comfortable transportation experience for patients with mental disabilities, the elderly as well as critical patients. They produce almost zero noise which helps in monitoring patients better. Additionally, paramedics can provide first aid treatment to patients in moving ambulances. This aids in improving pre-hospital medical care provided to patients during transportation.
Increased Affordability
With the surging fuel prices, the availability and affordability of efficient medical transportation are being affected. The increased cost of transportation results in the low availability of ambulances. This results in delays and lack of accessibility to hospitals, further affecting the patients’ health. In contrast to internal combustible engine (ICE) vehicles, electric ambulances have comparatively lower operational costs, making them a cost-effective alternative in the emergency response landscape. Furthermore, it makes the emergency response more affordable for individuals of varied economical backgrounds across the country.
Cuts Down on Fuel Expenses
The overall operational cost of traditional vehicles is going up due to the increasing price of petrol, diesel, and CNG. On the other hand, while the initial investment for electric vehicles is high, the day-to-day operational costs are comparatively lower than ICE vehicles. This facilitates high savings where healthcare providers can invest more in medical equipment, training their staff, and expanding immediate response services.
Efficient Real-Time Tracking
In a densely populated country like India, it gets difficult to reach the location on time. In such situations, electric ambulances enable real-time tracking through GPS that allows emergency responders to reach the patient on time. It also facilitates seamless communication between hospitals and ambulance staff. As a result of quick communication and tracking, hospital staff can prepare and be ready to operate in times of emergency. Subsequently, this improves the quality of healthcare and accelerates recuperation time.
The Road Ahead
Over the last few years, electric vehicles have entered the mainstream transportation market. While it has multi-fold benefits, there still exists a need to increase awareness. The government of India is taking multiple initiatives to boost the production of electric vehicles and with the ongoing advancement and digitization of the healthcare sector, opting for electric ambulances would be a step towards a healthier community.
Electrifying the emergency fleet is a game-changing and much-needed solution in the ever-changing healthcare industry. This will be a significant step toward zero-emission and sustainable development goals, which will have a greater impact on the well-being of the planet and its people.
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