SHANNON Airport has become the first Irish airport to take delivery of an electric powered vehicle that will be used to respond to medical emergencies.
The vehicle, called “Rescue 14”, replaces a diesel-powered model and is built to National Ambulance Service specifications. It is fully equipped with a defibrillator, stretcher, medication bag and oxygen masks.
The Shannon Airport Police and Fire team, who are all accredited Emergency First Responders, have already started training on the new vehicle.
The new electric vehicle was built by Offaly-based Wilker Group, which has more than 50 years’ experience in the design, build and delivery of ambulance and specialist vehicle conversions.
Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Pat O’Brien said Shannon was the first airport in the State to delivery of an electric Medical Response Vehicle as the airport transitions to more sustainable vehicles.
In 2019, the airport made a significant investment in two new High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) fire tenders.
“The continued investment by the Shannon Airport Group into new technology across our fleet, allows us to ensure continued safety of passengers and staff in more sustainable and efficient ways,” he explained.
Airport Head of Sustainability Sinead Murphy said it marked another chapter in Shannon’s sustainability journey and the next step in the electrification of our fleet across the airport.
“It is part of our commitment to facilitate more sustainable mobility across the campus and beyond.”
The delivery of the new medical response vehicle coincides with the roll out of a programme for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the Shannon Campus which includes several ultra-fast charging points for the public.
