Designed and produced specifically for St John Ambulance as a bariatric ambulance, the new vehicle is based on a MAN TGE and uses the new Promech-developed ultra low floor architecture.
According to VCS, this is the first time a low floor bariatric ambulance has been offered to the market. Its 5.0t gvw offers a payload of 1,200kg, making it capable of carrying specialist medical equipment without any compromise to patient care. It is also said to be suitable for neonatal, paediatric, adult critical care, ECMO transfers (of patients with acute respiratory failure), and A&E.
VCS’s new bariatric ambulance is fitted with the manufacturer’s Core Capture lightweight composite body, which benefits from sleek air dam and streamer designs. It also features bespoke alloy wheels and uprated tyres, which are tested beyond the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight.
Mark Kerrigan, managing director at VCS said: “By using the ULFA platform, we have been able to raise the MAN TGE’s gross vehicle weight from 3.5T to 5.0T, despite the vehicle’s front wheel drive configuration. Our in-house design experts have worked extremely closely with MAN Truck & Bus UK and its technical and homologation departments.
“This is the result of 18 months of comprehensive, constant, and rigorous development and testing, to satisfy MAN’s technical requirements and type approvals requirements.”