London Ambulance Service spends ?31m on electric cars while …

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is buying a fleet of electric Ford Mustangs as part of a GBP31 million “green up” mission while paramedics remain locked in a dispute over pay[1]. The 42 cars, worth up to GBP74,000 each, will be used as fast-response vehicles across the capital. Seven of the “iconic cars”[2] are already in use as part of the service’s plans to modernise its vehicles, but a further 35 will now be rolled out.

The new fleet is part of a GBP31 million investment programme by LAS, which includes adding charging ports to its ambulance stations and recruiting new mechanics. The significant investment, aimed at helping the service reach net zero, comes while its staff are locked in a dispute over pay. Paramedics at the service walked out on strike in December, January and February over the Government’s pay offer for 2022/23.

Further strike action scheduled for March was paused after unions[3] agreed to enter into formal talks with the Government. Members of Unison[4], which includes LAS staff, last week accepted the pay offer – a 5 per cent pay rise from April and a one-off payment to top up this current year’s pay award. A ballot of GMB members, also LAS staff, will close at the end of the month.

Paramedics walked out over the Government’s 4 per cent pay award for 2022/23, as well issues over staffing and resources.

Inside the Ford Mustang Mach-E[5]

Announcing the new fleet, Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of LAS, said: “I’m very proud we have the biggest electric fleet of fast response cars in the country and we can contribute to reaching net zero. “Having cleaner and greener vehicles is extremely important in improving air quality – not just for our people and our patients – but also for the health of our communities across London.” The LAS does not set staff pay levels and some union sources welcomed the announcement as an upgrade to vehicles.

It’s understood the electrification of the LAS fleet is also linked to the Ulez plans of Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. Around 10 per cent of the service’s 1,000 vehicles will now be electric or hybrid[6], and where this is not possible any new vehicles will comply with Ulez, LAS previously said.

The electric cars take 40 minutes to charge to 80 per cent capacity, allowing the vehicles to travel more than 300 miles

After the first seven vehicles were launched last year, Mr Khan praised the service for having the largest electric fleet in the country for any ambulance service and “playing a crucial part in ensuring Londoners breathe cleaner air as part of my net zero 2030 ambition for the capital”. The new cars take 40 minutes to charge to 80 per cent capacity, allowing the car to travel more than 300 miles.

LAS said it will also add solar panels to the vehicles “to make them even more environmentally friendly” as the blue lights and sirens will be powered by a separate 12-volt battery rather than the car’s. It comes after the service introduced three electric motorbikes last year, the first service in the country to do so. This summer it will also roll out four fully electric ambulances.

Around GBP10 million of the initial investment was funded by North West London Integrated Care System, it was reported last year.

LAS did not respond to requests for comment about where the full GBP31 million was sourced from.

Electric vehicles in use by the UK’s emergency services[7]

References

1. ^ paramedics remain locked in a dispute over pay (www.telegraph.co.uk)
2. ^ “iconic cars” (www.telegraph.co.uk)
3. ^ strike action scheduled for March was paused after unions (www.telegraph.co.uk)
4. ^ Members of Unison (www.telegraph.co.uk)
5. ^ Inside the Ford Mustang Mach-E (cf-particle-html.eip.telegraph.co.uk)
6. ^ electric or hybrid (www.telegraph.co.uk)
7. ^ Electric vehicles in use by the UK’s emergency services (cf-particle-html.eip.telegraph.co.uk)