40 new Renault Master vehicles for East of England Ambulance Service Trust
Dozens of new ambulances will be taking to the road to help patients in the Hertfordshire and Essex region before Christmas.
The East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) is retiring its Mercedes ambulances.
Last year it bought 12 Renault Master vehicles and has added 40 more to replace the Mercs by December. The first 20 have been delivered and will be on the road soon. The other 20 are planned to be in service by the end of the year.
The new vehicles, which will form around 10% of the total ambulance fleet, include technology to turn off idling engines, cut fuel use and reduce emissions.
Further vehicles will be joining the fleet over the autumn, including Ford Transit and MAN TGE vehicles.
Wayne Lawlor, head of fleet for EEAST, said: “Our fleet of vehicles are worked hard – seven days a week – covering more than one million miles a month, and our Mercedes ambulances are due to be retired this year.
“The new Renaults will replace these, and our crews and patients will have the benefit of newer ambulances as we go into the worst months of winter.
“Our fleet team will be working to replace the ageing Mercedes and early generation FIATS and replace them with the new vehicles in the coming weeks.”