Hradec rescuers will put an electric car into operation, the first in the Czech Republic

“We are the first rescue service in the Czech Republic to put a vehicle with an electric drive into permanent operation,” Anatolij Truhlář, medical deputy of the ZZS KHK, told ČTK.

According to him, the smaller range of electric cars on a single charge will not limit the possibilities of the Hradec ZZS. The electric car in the colors of the Hradec rescuers will operate mostly within a radius of 20 kilometers.

“The crew for which the vehicle is intended will drive an average of 55 km per day, the trips are broken up into small parts. We are not worried that the range would limit us,” said Truhlář. According to him, every ambulance, no matter how it is powered, is already connected by a cable to a source of electricity in the garage.

“We normally charge the medical devices that are in our cars, so the driver is used to putting the car on the cable after every trip,” said Truhlář.

Photo: Profimedia.cz

The money for the purchase of the car comes from the Damage Prevention Fund of the Czech Office of Insurers, and the funds for the devices and medical equipment of the electric car come from the ZZS KHK and the Hradec Králové region.

“All the analyzes that we had processed indicated the acquisition of this type of vehicle. We believe that it will prove itself in our specific operation. Our way of driving in city traffic brake-throttle is perfect for electric drive, diesel engines suffer a lot in our traffic. We also expect lower operating costs,” said Truhlář.

The vehicle is equipped with medical devices, material and medicines just like other ambulances. Like most ambulances in Hradec Králové, this one also has a so-called preference module, which, thanks to communication with the intelligent traffic light control system, allows crews to smoothly pass through intersections in the regional city.

“For the effectiveness of the medical rescue service, it is necessary to equip it with new technologies, vehicles and resources. That’s why we are putting into operation an electric car that will serve doctors on trips, mainly in Hradec Králové,” said Governor Martin Červíček (ODS).

Thanks to two electric motors, the Volkswagen ID.4 in the top GTX version has all-wheel drive and a system output of up to 250 kW, 340 hp. The battery with a capacity of 77 kWh promises a range of up to 511 km according to the WLTP standard.

ZZS KHK has field groups at 17 field bases in 14 cities and towns. Ten departure groups out of 33, including the air ambulance crew, include a doctor. The remaining 23 departure groups are non-medical departure groups of rapid medical assistance (RZP). In addition to the usual two- or three-man crews, a traffic inspector with a fully equipped emergency vehicle is also permanently deployed in the system.