The Government of India recently extended the PM E-DRIVE scheme (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) until March 2028, signalling strong support for electrifying transport. Notably, when PM E-DRIVE was launched in 2024, it earmarked INR 500 crore specifically to promote electric ambulances. Yet despite this policy signal, the transition of ambulances from conventional to electric has been slow, due to limited e-ambulance model availability, higher upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure, and concerns about performance. This is a missed opportunity. As India continues to expand its ambulance fleet to meet growing healthcare needs, now is the moment to ensure that this essential service grows in a climate-aligned way.
India’s ambulance network is a critical healthcare lifeline. With over 30,000 vehicles across public and private systems – including the well-known 108 emergency and 102 patient transport services – ambulances connect patients to care every day (1). Population-based norms recommend one Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance per 1,00,000 people and one Advanced Life Support (ALS) per 5,00,000. Several states, from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, have already achieved more than 90 per cent of this ratio, but gaps remain elsewhere (2). As the fleet grows to close these gaps, India faces a choice: continue locking in diesel-based ambulances with high fuel costs and emissions, or shift decisively to clean electric alternatives.
Why ambulances? While they make up a small fraction of the transport sector, their impact is outsized. Ambulances operate around the clock and often idle with engines running for long stretches near hospitals or in crowded neighbourhoods, contributing to local air pollution. They are also expected to grow in number as demand for healthcare rises (3). For hospitals that are already centres of healing, cutting emissions from their own fleets is a direct way to reduce pollution in sensitive areas around patients and medical staff – ensuring cleaner air where it matters most.
Conventional diesel units worsen urban air quality and add to India’s fuel import burden. Electric models, by contrast, produce no tailpipe emissions, reduce noise and vibration, and lower running costs. Pilots have shown promise: one Maharashtra project recorded 40 per cent lower operating cost per trip and up to 60 per cent lower maintenance compared to diesel (4). These savings directly strengthen healthcare budgets. For medics and patients alike, the quieter, smoother ride of an EV ambulance also improves the experience of emergency transport.
Recognising this potential, PM E-DRIVE set aside INR 500 crore specifically for ambulance electrification, with demand incentives to offset higher upfront costs (5). Performance and safety standards for e-ambulances are being developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that only vehicles meeting stringent specifications for range, reliability, and medical equipment power qualify for subsidies. Some states are also stepping up. Madhya Pradesh, for instance, offers 100 per cent exemption on motor vehicle tax and registration fees for e-ambulances, while mandating electrification of 80 per cent of its government fleet, including ambulances, within the policy period (6).
But policy momentum alone is not enough. E-ambulances face unique challenges: they must power critical medical equipment, handle heavy loads, and remain ready for service 24/7. Charging infrastructure at hospitals and dispatch centres is not yet widespread. Vehicle costs remain higher upfront, even if lifecycle savings balance the ledger. Another major challenge is that while several manufacturers are in the process of developing electric ambulances, though none have reached commercial rollout yet. Force Motors has successfully homologated an electric ambulance model in India, achieving certification from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in mid-2025. This means the vehicle met all regulatory standards and is approved for road use. It is notably the first electric ambulance in India to receive such approval. However, commercial production of this e-ambulance has not begun as of August 2025. The others remain in development or prototype stage, with manufacturers likely waiting for clear policies and standards before production.
To overcome this, states need well-designed pilot projects that test electric ambulances across different terrains, climatic conditions, and emergency response scenarios. Once hundreds of vehicles demonstrate their reliability in practice, scaling up to thousands will be far easier.
By taking this step now, India can show the world that even the most critical, specialised vehicles can go electric without compromising safety or performance. This is bigger than ambulances alone: it sends a message that every vehicle – from a two-wheeler to a city bus to a hospital ambulance – can be part of a cleaner, more sustainable future. The electrification of ambulances will not happen overnight. But if India commits now, it will save money, reduce emissions, and protect the very people these vehicles are meant to serve.
References:
1. https://cleanmobilityshift.com/policy-regulation/benefits-of-transitioning-to-electric-ambulances-in-india/# 2.https://www.exemplars.health/-/media/files/n-mmr/india/48-national-ambulance-services-in-india–a-narrative review.pdf
3. https://ijht.org.in/index.php/ijhti/article/download/163/119#
4. https://sushruthospitalrajgurunagar.in/ev-ambulance-maharashtra-hospitallaunch/#:~:text=From per cent20a per cent20financial per cent20standpoint per cent2C per cent20EV,rely per cent20on per cent20fuel per cent20price per cent20fluct uations
5. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2110247#
6. https://static.investindia.gov.in/s3fs-public/2025-04/mp-ev-policy-2025_final-1.pdf