USING electric ambulances in rural areas has provoked questions in Peebles and from the College of Paramedics.

Last month we reported that hold-ups on Tweed Bridge were due to the installation of an electric cable, for a power hub at the ambulance station to charge ambulances.

Following that story, reader Liam Tilley said: “Emergency vehicles should not be electric until all current electric vehicle (EV) issues and technology have advanced enough to provide a reliable service.

“There are issues such as terrible fires, monumental costs of new batteries, running out of charge and not being able to charge on the go.

“Stick to cars, buses, taxis and large goods vehicles for now and don’t compromise an already fragile system even more.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) spokesperson said that a new energy supply was required at Peebles ambulance station for its electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

A spokesperson for the College of Paramedics said: “We are aware of the growing use of electric ambulances and have seen their benefit in urban areas. 

“It may be too early to tell if use of electric vehicles are as beneficial in more rural areas as we have not seen the evidence. 

“We have heard anecdotal reports from our members that some of the ambulances take longer to charge than expected.

“We would expect services that have a large geographical landscape to have done their due diligence and keep patient safety and staff confidence at the heart of their fleet decisions.”

Electric ambulances have been trialled in several areas of England. In the west Midlands the first one was launched in 2020 but the range of 70 to 80 miles is seen as a limiting factor.

Responding to the concerns, an SAS spokesperson said: “The Scottish Ambulance Service has a clear commitment to net zero. “The new vehicle charging infrastructure will be to support the current electric fleet vehicles and the vehicles that can be transitioned. At present there are no electric acute ambulances in fleet.”