The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust has taken an order of 51 Toyota RAV4s that will be used as rapid response vehicles throughout Wales.
Replacing the existing diesel fleet, the new rapid response hybrid RAV4s will be both cleaner and more fuel-efficient, but also more practical, capable of carrying all the necessary equipment, plus crew wherever the emergency takes them.
The 51 new Toyota RAV4s (all in Hybrid Design spec) are being supplied by FRF Toyota Swansea and are expected to cover around 40,000 miles each year, traversing the length and breadth of Wales during their tenure.
With Wales providing a unique set of driving conditions, the new rapid response RAV4s will be able to conquer snow, mud, ice, gravel and much more with the use of Toyota’s AWD-i intelligent all-wheel-drive system. This will help the paramedics reach every patient, no matter where they need help.
David Holmes, the trust’s fleet manager, said: “Our vehicles have to meet strict reliability and carrying capacity criteria as they perform a vital function helping the people of Wales. Not only does the RAV4 Hybrid meet our requirements, but it is also helping us reduce the environmental impact of our fleet.”
Toyota Fleet will be providing additional support for the Trust including training for NHS vehicle technicians so they can service and maintain the vehicles to Toyota’s standards. This will help minimise the time the RAV4s spend off the road, meaning more time on the roads helping patients.
Stuart Ferma, General Manager, Toyota and Lexus Fleet, said: “There can be no better validation of the quality and reliability of our hybrid vehicles than to see them being chosen for vital duties by the emergency services. By meeting the high demands of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, RAV4 shows that it has what it takes to meet the needs of all kinds of business users across the country.”
All information is correct at the time of publishing.
