By Randy Lankford

Most ambulance passengers don’t care what kind of mileage the vehicle they’re riding in gets. From a patient’s perspective, it’s all about speed.

But to a company that travels 24 million miles a year, even a small increase in gas mileage is worth pursuing. That’s why Acadian Ambulance jumped at the chance to increase the average mileage of its emergency vehicles by two-thirds.

The key to increased efficiency? Acadian invested in Mercedes Benz-powered Dodge Sprinter II model ambulances, which get 15 miles per gallon — nearly double the 9-miles-per-gallon averaged by the more familiar box-style ambulances.

This makes a big impact on the local environment since Acadian provides 911 emergency medical services via 14 vehicles to residents in the unincorporated areas of Bexar County and to 10 cities in the San Antonio area including Castle Hills, China Grove, Fair Oaks Ranch, Grey Forest, Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park, St. Hedwig, Somerset, Von Ormy and Windcrest.

The catalyst for the company’s switch to greener transportation: Acadian’s fuel costs skyrocketed in 2008, according to EMS World, when the company logged 120 million miles.

“Fuel costs had risen by over $300,000 for the last four months,” Jerry Romero, vice president for operations, told the Acadiana Gazette in 2008. “Being a Medicare provider, we cannot charge a fuel charge so we began to study a lot of different hybrids.”

The company Chairman and CEO Richard Zuschlag discovered the Sprinters while they were being used as shuttle vans at a golf tournament. At first, Acadian employees worked in the Sprinter on a trial basis.

Interestingly, the new ambulances weren’t an immediate hit with all Acadian’s employee.

“They were skeptical at first,” explains the company’s vice president of central region operations, Troy Mayer.  “The back is narrower than the big box-type ambulances Americans are used to. The Sprinters are narrower but taller. Now our technicians can stand up in the back rather than having to work crouched over.”

Originally introduced with 14-inch wheels and a less-powerful engine, the Sprinter I model wasn’t considered adequate for emergency service and was used as a distribution van. When 16-inch wheels, providing more stability, and a more powerful two-liter engine — along with a sophisticated electronics package were introduced — Acadian began including the Sprinter II in its emergency fleet.

Each Sprinter contains the same equipment as its box-style counterpart, however, the configuration has been changed.

“We would never operate a vehicle that’s not safe or fully stocked,” says Mayer. “The Sprinters are configured to have the same capabilities of any other ambulance. They just do it more efficiently.”

In addition to its fuel efficiency, the Sprinter II also uses energy-efficient LED lighting in the patient compartment and on the exterior warning signals and light bar. The company also encourages drivers not to allow the engine to idle while not in use.

Based in Lafayette, La., Acadian provides emergency transportation services to the unincorporated portions of Bexar County, which, at times, have to travel some less-than-pristine back roads.

“Because these vehicles are narrower and more maneuverable than traditional ambulances, they’re able to get into places a box-style vehicle might not,” Mayer adds.

Acadian CEO Zuschlag says maintenance on both vehicles and technicians has been reduced as well. 

“The old-style ambulances have a complicated lift system that’s difficult and expensive to maintain,” he explains. “The new Sprinters have an automatic system that lowers the loading deck as soon as the back doors are opened. Our technicians don’t have to lift stretchers as high as they used to. They’re not hurting their backs anymore. They love it.”

To date, Acadian, which serves portions of Texas and Louisiana, has added 76 Sprinters to its fleet with another 40 on order. The company plans to convert 80 percent of its 360 vehicles to Sprinters over the next 24 months.

“I’ve been with Acadian more than 20 years,” Mayer adds.  “I’ve seen ambulances evolve over that time, and I’ve come to expect the company to keep up with the latest innovations.  I remember when we were operating single-axle ambulances.  The hottest thing around then was dual-axle vehicles.  Now, with the Sprinter, we’ve gotten a complete makeover of what we’re used to.”

RANDY LANKFORD is a San Antonio freelance writer.