Modern Healthcare Companies, including Ambulnz, Go “Green”

Companies, such as NYC-based medical transport company Ambulnz, lead the industry in green initiatives

“Green” ambulances, used by Ambulnz and other companies, save lives in more ways than one

According to reports by the Global Carbon Project, 2019 met yet another record high of global greenhouse gas emissions. While carbon dioxide emissions are the primary greenhouse gas emitted by humans, transportation takes second largest total share. This accounts for 27% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than a quarter of the over 15 trillion pounds we attribute to CO2 emissions annually.

Medical transportation, in particular, remains one of the key sectors of the industry that still uses combustion engine vehicles. In the United States alone, there are approximately 49,000 ground ambulance vehicles in service. But these vehicles, while essential to saving lives, also contribute to global carbon emissions. To combat this, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) companies, such as NYC-based Ambulnz, proudly use eco-friendly vehicles to transport their patients. “The use of an eco-friendly fleet is a no-brainer,” asserts Ben Sherman, Ambulnz’s VP of Business Development and Investor Relations. “If every ambulance switched to gas versus diesel, patients would still receive the immediate aid they require, but our planet would benefit immeasurably from a reduced carbon footprint.”

The EMS industry can take a more active role in reducing its carbon footprint

The EMS industry, like every industry, can actively work toward reducing its carbon footprint. To start, EMS companies can take active steps toward making the best use of time, while reducing idling and driving times. There should be an industry-wide objective to decrease vehicle miles traveled and idling time, which can reduce the industry’s CO2 emissions as a whole. Ambulnz, for example, uses AI-powered technology to schedule and dispatch its eco-friendly vehicles, ensuring smarter routing, better on-time compliance, and more efficient pick-ups and drop-offs to and from hospitals.

The EMS industry should also consider utilizing six-cylinder vehicles compared to the industry standard of eight; more cylinders equate to more combustion, which requires more gasoline usage for the vehicle.

With hard-working industry leaders dedicated to organization protocols and advanced technologies, there is no reason these goals cannot be achieved.

Eco-friendly vehicles are affordable and less detrimental to the planet

Recently, governments have been offering incentives and tax cuts to encourage people to buy more electric vehicles globally. This provides incentive for the EMS industry to purchase larger fleets at cheaper prices. Specifically, in the United States, the IRS offers tax credits of up to $7,500 for every electric vehicle that is purchased for use in the U.S.

Electric vehicles also have low maintenance costs, as they do not need frequent servicing; there will be no oil changes, spark plugs, belts or gasoline. Some studies have shown that electric vehicles can help you save as much as $750 every month. With large fleets servicing millions of people daily, the EMS industry could save hundreds of thousands annually in service fees.

In the medical field, ambulances are always ready to go in case of emergencies. Picture a scenario where an ambulance is not refueled, needs to be serviced or even breaks down in the middle of an emergency. Combustion engines have so many parts that are constantly exposed to heat. This heat makes all these parts wear out faster which increases the risk of the occurrence of an unprecedented breakdown. When operating electric vehicles, such inconveniences are reduced greatly. Electric ambulances, in particular, can be charged at the hospital while remaining available to emergencies.

Apart from helping to lower global CO2 emissions, green vehicles also have numerous features that would be advantageous to EMS companies. With their reduced acquisition and maintenance costs, electric vehicles could be the key to implementing new ways to be eco-friendly across the industry.