Hybrid Ambulance Wins Finance Committee Support

The Amherst Finance Committee voted unanimously and enthusiastically on Tuesday to recommend to the Town Council the purchase of a new hybrid ambulance. 

The Fire Department’s capital request, which came outside of the normal budgeting cycle, was for $300,000, including a $25,000 upcharge for “ZeroRPM Idle Mitigation System” technology. This upcharge is likely to be reimbursed by a Green Communities grant that the Town has received.

The new ambulance will replace a 2011 model that has logged 185,000 miles and 9,983 engine hours. The older ambulance failed the state vehicle emissions test in August and was determined to have unrepairable oil leaks. It has been out of service since then, reducing the Town’s available ambulances to four. 

The new ambulance will be assigned as the department’s “A-1” ambulance out of the Central Fire Station, meaning it will be the first to respond to calls. Town Manager Paul Bockelman noted in a memo to the Council that there is little to no trade-in value for the 2011 ambulance and so the vehicle will be auctioned.

Assistant Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren told the Finance Committee that the hybrid model was only released 2-3 years ago. The “ZeroRPM” technology will enable the engine to switch to electric while idling, cutting operating costs substantially. Stromgren reported an anticipated 3-5 years payback on the upcharge due to reduced fuel and maintenance costs with the hybrid vehicle over a gas or diesel model. Stromgren said that ambulances typically idle for 20-30 minutes once they reach a call, hence engine hours are typically high relative to mileage.

If the Council approves the purchase at their next meeting, delivery of the new ambulance is expected in the spring, approximately six months from placing the order.