Electric ambulances are emerging as a key technology area supporting the use of low-emission vehicles in emergency healthcare services. Ambulance superstructures developed in Türkiye are being shaped in conjunction with electric propulsion systems, taking into account international requirements defined for road ambulances in terms of both safety and technical design.
Sectoral and Technical Section
In electric ambulance projects, cabin structure, placement of medical devices, electrical safety and equipment integration are addressed in line with the principles set out in the EN 1789 standard, which defines the design, equipment and performance criteria for road ambulances. EN 1789 includes core requirements related to the structural integrity of the patient compartment, securing of medical equipment, ergonomic interior layout and safety elements.
Within the scope of the TSE Ambulance Conformity process carried out in Türkiye, road ambulances are inspected in accordance with both the relevant regulation and the TS EN 1789 standard, and an EK-C Certificate of Conformity (EK-C) is issued for vehicles found to be compliant. This process covers on-site inspection of elements such as cabin component layout, fixation of medical equipment, electrical panels and secondary power systems.
In vehicles with electric propulsion, the traction battery and high-voltage systems are evaluated together with the main load-bearing chassis, while on the patient compartment side, low-voltage circuits supplying medical devices and inverter–rectifier systems are also handled within the safety framework defined by the standard.
Standards and Certification Framework
Companies producing ambulance superstructures in Türkiye state that they design their products in accordance with TS EN 1789 and subject them to the EK-C verification process conducted by TSE. Within this scope, cabin strength, interior equipment layout, medical device fixation elements and electrical safety components are subjected to relevant tests and inspections.
EN 1789:2020 and subsequent updated versions continue to form the core framework for the design, testing, performance and equipment of road ambulances, including provisions related to the working environment of the patient compartment, crew and patient safety, and protection of electrical equipment.
In electric ambulances, high-voltage power systems are evaluated within the scope of general vehicle safety and relevant electrical safety regulations, while for medical devices, lighting, climate control and communication systems on the cabin side, compliance with the conditions stipulated by EN 1789 is taken as the basis. Ambulance inspection and EK-C certification processes carried out by TSE function as complementary field verification steps for these standard principles.
National and International Framework
European Union regulations aimed at encouraging the use of low- and zero-emission road vehicles in public procurement seek to increase the share of electric and “clean” vehicles, particularly in public fleets. The Clean Vehicles Directive (2019/1161) defines minimum procurement targets for clean and zero-emission vehicles to be met over specific periods, making it mandatory to consider energy efficiency and emission impacts in public tenders.
This policy framework creates a basis for growing demand for electric and low-emission solutions in publicly owned vehicle fleets, including ambulances and emergency healthcare vehicles. Example applications developed in different countries for electric ambulances and light-duty emergency response vehicles indicate that zero-emission or low-emission powertrains are increasingly being considered, especially in urban healthcare services.
In Türkiye, the electric ambulance and electric healthcare vehicle segment includes both industrial and light-duty applications developed for campuses, airports or restricted-access areas, as well as superstructure projects intended for urban use. In these projects, integrating EN 1789-compliant cabin design with vehicles with electric propulsion enables local manufacturers to develop technologies that can be evaluated in both domestic and international markets.
Research and Development and Engineering Dimension
In electric ambulances, research and development activities focus on in-cabin energy management, safety of high-voltage components and uninterrupted power supply for medical devices. In vehicles with electric propulsion, optimizing the energy balance between driving range and in-cabin loads such as climate control, ventilation, lighting and medical devices stands out as a critical component of engineering design.
Within this scope, development efforts are being carried out in areas such as improving climate control efficiency, ensuring battery management systems operate in harmony with cabin loads, configuring backup power sources (secondary batteries, inverter systems and similar components), and managing priority loads in emergency scenarios. These approaches aimed at reducing energy consumption and ensuring uninterrupted operation of medical equipment support the operational continuity of electric ambulances.
Manufacturers operating in the ambulance superstructure field in Türkiye are focusing on developing solutions that can meet both domestic market needs and international expectations by jointly addressing EN 1789-compliant cabin design, TSE EK-C processes and electrical infrastructure compatible with electric powertrains.
The combined consideration of EN 1789-based cabin design, TSE conformity processes and low-emission-focused public policies in electric ambulances provides an important foundation for the production ecosystem in Türkiye. Standards-compliant structural and electrical solutions contribute to the development of electric ambulance fleets with a low-emission and safety-focused approach.
