Ambulances in Norway face speed challenges due to EU regulations on emissions

New ambulances in Norway are struggling to maintain adequate speeds during emergencies due to stricter environmental regulations imposed by the EU. To reduce emissions, manufacturers have installed smaller engines in the ambulances, resulting in lower acceleration. This situation complicates the efforts of drivers, especially on Norway’s steep and narrow roads.

Norway’s limited purchase of ambulances—just over a hundred annually—means there is little leverage to pressure manufacturers for custom vehicles equipped with larger engines. While electric vehicles could potentially address some of these issues, their current range is still inadequate for emergency services.

Ambulance worker Camilla Arseth Holte presses the accelerator all the way down, but the speedometer slowly climbs from 87 to 88 kilometers per hour. “I should be going around 130 kilometers per hour right now,” she notes, as sirens wail while navigating the Ellingsøy Tunnel in Ålesund. The recent modifications to ambulances have led to decreased speeds.

Jon-Ola Wattø, head of prehospital services for Helse Midt-Norge, acknowledges that while their work continues, patients are not at greater risk, though the vehicles lack the power they once had. He explains that new cars are required to meet lower emission standards. While older ambulances had a three-liter engine, today’s models feature only a two-liter engine, making it more challenging for drivers to navigate Norway’s demanding terrain.

Wattø highlights the difficulty in addressing these issues before electric ambulances become viable options, noting that there’s a lack of urgency to pioneer their use given their limited range.