Vehicle Conversion Specialists (VCS) has partnered with Promech Technologies and ULEMco to develop the UK’s first hydrogen fuel-cell ambulance, which could be in service with the London Ambulance Service as early as this autumn.
As part of the Zero Emission Rapid Response Operations ambulance (ZERRO) project, a prototype hydrogen-powered ambulance has been designed by the collaboration and funded by the UK government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
Currently in the prototype build stage, ZERRO’s ambulance body is fabricated using VCS’s lightweight ‘Core Capture’ construction method, which is designed to offer “strength and practicality, without impacting vehicle efficiency”.
Furthermore, a low-floor chassis design has been provided by Promech Technologies, featuring an easy access floor for easier loading and unloading of patients, and removes the need for lifting equipment.
The 3D design engineering firm also brings expertise in the integration and packaging of zero-emission and electric powertrains for bespoke applications.
As project lead, ULEMco offers expertise in hydrogen fuel cell technology. The project also includes Lyra Electronics, which brings specialist DC-DC electronics capability, and Ocado, with experience in the practical use of EVs.
Mark Kerrigan, managing director at VCS, said: “The way in which emergency service fleets embrace zero-emission technology is important for the country’s wider drive towards carbon neutrality.
“As new technologies, such as hydrogen fuel-cells, are piloted in the ambulance service, I’m delighted that VCS can be relied upon for its high-quality, ultra-lightweight conversion capabilities.”
As previously reported by CiTTi, the ZERRO project follows the introduction of the UK’s first fully-electric front line ambulance, the E-DCA, by VCS in 2020.
Learn about VCS’s fully-electric ambulance in the February 2021 issue of CiTTi Magazine:
