Norfolk Fire Service take the lead in adopting electric emergency response cars
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) have become the first fire service in the country to move to a fleet of electric emergency response cars.
Following the end of the lease period on the previous emergency response cars operated by the service, the decision has been made to move to hybrid electric vehicles. The vehicles allow incident commanders to travel swiftly to take command of, or offer support to, ongoing incidents.
Forty-five Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are being leased for incident commanders as part of new fleet strategy and transformation programme, which will contribute to the Councils' ambition to reduce carbon emissions by 2030. Each car will be fitted with blue lights and communications equipment and will provide a versatile car for incident commanders to attend emergencies.
Councillor Margret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said:
"We all need to do our part to reduce carbon emissions, both as organisations and as individuals, however we also need to be confident that our Fire Service has the tools to protect the county. I'm delighted that the service has identified these vehicles as being able to do both, with no loss of capability while also working towards our commitment to Net Zero.
"By becoming the first Fire Service in the country to make the move to electric emergency response cars, Norfolk is leading the way both in terms of environmental protection and protecting our communities."
Norfolk County Council has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across the County Council estate by 2030.
NFRS is confident that the Hyundai Tucson will meet all the requirements of an emergency response car including a large boot for equipment and the ability to respond in all weathers and on rough terrain such as farm tracks and other off-road locations.
The Hyundais will replace the previous emergency response cars used by NFRS, which were powered by diesel.
Leasing is considered to be the most cost-effective way of acquiring the vehicles for a number of reasons, including long term maintenance costs associated with any vehicle put through the kind of use emergency response cars are expected to endure.
Electric vehicle charge points are currently being installed on nominated fire stations across Norfolk, with the first cars of this order due to arrive in the spring.
Norfolk County Council also funds the installation of and the coordination of charging points at village halls across Norfolk as part of the County Council's Electric Vehicle Strategy, approved in autumn 2021, which aims to help remove some of the barriers to electric vehicle usage in the county.