Hybrid ambulances reduce carbon dioxide emissions when responding to 911 emergencies in the Seattle city center by showing a 23% increase in miles driven per gallon and a 19% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing fleet emissions is a key goal for the city as outlined in Mayor Ed Murray’s Drive Clean Seattle Initiative.
The results from the hybrid-electric ambulances have exceeded the City’s expectations. As a result, the City is ordering 10 more vehicles this year, including Ford Transit vans equipped with XL Hybrids systems for the Seattle Department of Public Utilities.
The hybrid-electric ambulances have been used over tens of thousands of miles of driving on Seattle’s steeply graded urban streets and in fluctuating temperatures. Used in 911 emergency response in Seattle’s city center, the XL Hybrids system has the same or better torque than stock ambulances.
“By proving themselves in a rigorous and demanding urban duty cycle, the retrofitted hybrid-electric ambulances are a successful beginning to our partnership with The City of Seattle,” said Clay Siegert, co-founder and chief operating officer of XL Hybrids.
The ambulances are equipped with XL Link, a proprietary cloud-based fleet vehicle connectivity and analytics system. Measuring MPG performance, fuel savings and CO2 reduction, XL Link gives easy access on smartphones and laptops for fleet managers to monitor their sustainability goals, cost savings and workers.
XL3 is claimed to be transparent to fleet operations because the hybrid-electric technology requires no fueling infrastructure, no special plugs or extra driver training. Compatible with new and existing Class 2 to 6 commercial fleet vehicles, the XL Hybrids system can be installed in just hours.
