Health Secretary Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the ‘ridiculous’ Net Zero plan to amaze all UK ambulances within 15 years.

The cash-strapped NHS is preparing to abandon all its diesel ambulances and set up nearly 5,000 charging points at hospitals and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered cars.

Health chiefs have refused to expose just how much the brand-new ambulances will cost, but official figures seen by the Mail on Sunday reveal it will cost ₤ 100million just to upgrade the grid and electrical infrastructure needed for charging points.

The MoS can also reveal there are currently simply 2 electric-powered ambulances getting guests in England - compared to more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electrical emergency situation vehicles for paramedics, consisting of two cars and trucks, 16 action vans and 3 motorbikes.

The most current electrical ambulances have a series of approximately 200 miles, however paramedic crews in rural locations frequently travel further in a shift.

Latest figures show the average action time in England for the most life-threatening ‘category-one’ ambulance calls is seven minutes and 52 seconds - compared with an NHS target of seven minutes.

Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, stated: ‘Ambulance services have been having a hard time to satisfy their action targets. With these obstacles it is ridiculous to sidetrack NHS workers from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service launched the first completely electrical emergency ambulance 2020

Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the ‘ridiculous’ plan to amaze all UK ambulances

‘Time, planning and expenditure are entering into buying electric automobiles and constructing battery chargers - a number of which will never be set up - rather of improving response times.

‘A lot more concerning is the challenge of upgrading the grid in time to satisfy the extra demand.

‘This is yet another case of climate policy racing ahead of innovation with shocking outcomes for patients and taxpayers.’

England’s very first electrical ambulance began operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another 8 will be provided this year to be utilized in urban areas such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘Seventy per cent of our area is primarily rural and this continues to be the most significant consider our relocation to electric - having the range to run in areas where lorries can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.’

East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling 3 electrical ambulances since 2023, but has not utilized them to transport travelers. Another 8 will be provided to the service this year.

The Department of Health stated: ‘New electric ambulances will save the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.’

The NHS stated: ‘It is right we look for sustainable options when they enhance patient care and conserve the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not impact action times, [and] are emissions, upkeep and fuel expenses.’

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