Ford Pro: E-Transit as the first electric ambulance in Bavaria

That electromobility is not only climate-friendly but also practical and reliable, and even in emergencies, is to be demonstrated by a pilot project of the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK), supported by the transporter manufacturer Ford Pro. With the E-Transit as the base vehicle, Bavaria's roads will see the debut of the first all-electric ambulance. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann handed over the vehicle to the BRK rescue service in Erlangen on Friday.

The pilot project is scheduled to last at least two years, with the BRK using the electric ambulance in the district associations Rhön-Grabfeld and Erlangen-Höchstadt. The BRK's emergency personnel can look forward to the leading electric ambulance (E-KTW) as their base vehicle. Since its introduction in 2022, the E-Transit has clearly taken the lead in the segment for purely electrically driven transporters with up to two tons of payload in Europe, achieving a market share of more than 40 percent, according to the manufacturer. It comes in two power levels, with 183 hp (135 kW) or, as with the BRK's electric ambulance, 269 hp (198 kW). Thanks to the battery with an effectively usable 68 kWh, the electric vehicle achieves a range of up to 316 kilometers. Equally important for its practicality: the E-Van is capable of fast charging at 115 kW, allowing its battery capacity to be recharged to 80 percent within 35 minutes - the E-KTW is then ready for a further 180 kilometers.

"We are vigorously advancing the electrification of our Ford Pro commercial vehicle fleet and are convinced that electromobility is not only climate-friendly but also absolutely practical and economically worthwhile, especially for fleet and commercial customers," says Wilhelm Buchmüller, Head of Fleet Sales, Ford Germany. "The pilot project of the Bavarian Red Cross provides a good opportunity to demonstrate the practicality of electric commercial vehicles even under challenging conditions such as patient transportation. That's why we are very pleased that the BRK relies on the Ford E-Transit as the base vehicle for Bavaria's first electric ambulance."

From 2035 onwards, the manufacturer plans to offer its entire commercial vehicle fleet in Europe with only purely electric drives. By the end of this year, the entire Transit family will already be electrified, and each series - from the Transit Courier, Transit Connect, Transit Custom to the large Transit - will have at least one electrified model on the market.