Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Zero Emission Tokyo” initiative is making emissions reductions across all sectors, including health care. The Ikebukuro branch of the Tokyo Fire Department has welcomed its first all-electric ambulance.
The new van, created in a partnership with Nissan based off their NV400 van, includes cabin space for seven crew and passengers and comes fitted with an electric stretcher.
The eco-friendly ambulance is powered by two Li-ion battery packs with a second 8-kWh battery on board to power equipment and the air conditioning. Additionally, the vehicle can also serve as a source of power during an emergency or power outage.
While this is the first all-electric emergency response vehicle in Japan, it’s not the first in the world. Eugene Springfield Fire Department started a pilot program using Arcimoto’s Rapid Responder three-wheeler, and the Austrian city of Linz implemented a tactical EV last year.
Electric vehicles are the future of personal transportation, but they are also a great solution for creating more sustainable public transportation and services.
