New Ambulance Chassis Drivetrain.

[Arctickat]

I've been thinking of a hybrid chassis, It appears as though they will be available in upcoming Ford and GM chassis.

http://www.worktruckonline.com/news/story/2014/03/ford-e-series-vans-get-xl-hybrid-powertrain.aspx

[WolfmanHarris]

Very interesting. We already use an anti-idle system in our trucks, but with extremes in weather it's been found wanting. A true hybrid chassis may do a great job cutting down on idling on scene, at hospital when the bay's full and some of the in town driving at the very least. Wonder how it will be affected by the discontinuation of the E-series? Will the transit chassis be as amenable to being changed to a hybrid?

[island emt]

Eaton did this in a chassis that was used by Fed-ex and a couple other package delivery companies. Think it was based on a Navistar chassis.

[rock_shoes]

If these chassis are anything like small car hybrids they're more of a gimmick than anything. An equivalent size diesel vehicle will achieve better overall fuel economy with a proven power train (particularly when moving heavy loads AKA a 14,000 pound ambulance). A diesel powered hybrid might be worth a trial, but gas seems like a poor choice.

Edited March 6, 2014 by rock_shoes

[Arctickat]

Eaton did this in a chassis that was used by Fed-ex and a couple other package delivery companies. Think it was based on a Navistar chassis.

Yeah, I sent them an e-mail to see if they were considering the E series chassis 6 years ago and they never got back to me.

[Just Plain Ruff]

Yeah, I sent them an e-mail to see if they were considering the E series chassis 6 years ago and they never got back to me.

Their reply has been sitting in your spam folder all that time.