Hato Hone St John says its first electric emergency ambulance has met — and in some areas exceeded — expectations in its first year on the road, and will now shift south for a second phase of testing.

Launched in Waikato in April 2024 with funding from ASB, the EV ambulance attended more than 500 incidents, travelled 13,671 kilometres, and cut emissions by about four tonnes of CO₂, according to a one-year evaluation released today. St John says the vehicle proved faster, cleaner and quieter than its diesel counterpart while maintaining response capability and patient care.

The report assessed the ambulance’s performance in a metropolitan setting, including energy consumption, reliability, operational range, and patient and crew comfort. Head of Service Improvement and Sustainability Dr Colin Tan says the trial has defined minimum requirements and operational thresholds that will inform future fleet decisions.

St John will now base the vehicle in Lyttelton to see how it performs in colder weather and on rural, steep terrain, including around Banks Peninsula.

The project sits within St John’s broader effort to reduce operational emissions on the path to a 2050 net zero target, with road vehicles a major contributor. ASB, which backed the trial, says the early results are encouraging.

The full one-year report is available at: https://www.stjohn.org.nz/news--info/ev-ambulance-trial/