Zero-emission motorcycles power up for emergency med team

Two new electric Rapid Response Motorcycles will start serving at Ma On Shan and Tai Chik Sha ambulance depots today in a five-month pilot scheme.

Each costing HK$300,000, the zero-emission motorcycles are equipped with three compartments to hold first-aid materials.

The assistant director of fire services, Terence Ng Hau-ming, said deploying the motorcycles is part of the city carbon-neutrality goal.

They can be 80 percent charged in three hours and 20 minutes with a household 13V charger that are available at all ambulance depots and fire stations, and fully charged in four hours 20 minutes.

Cheng Tsz-wing, superintendent (fleet management), said the motorcycles can travel 130 kilometers when fully charged. That is enough to serve one day in the emergency medical assistant motorcycle team, as its members travel no farther than 100km a day.

A liquid-crystal display panel showing riding information is at the front of the vehicle for ambulancemen to monitor electricity remaining and kilometers traveled. It has four riding modes - road, eco, rain and dynamic - enabling ambulancemen to cope with different road conditions, and it is easy to handle when making a U-turn.

Ambulancemen only need to undergo a half-day training.

Cheng believed that deploying rapid response motorcycles could improve the operation efficiency at Ma On Shan and Tai Chik Sha depots, which have no emergency medical assistant motorcycles.

The motorcycles will be turned over to other ambulance depots in late August after the five-month pilot scheme.

All 47 old emergency medical assistant motorcycles in service since 2009 will be replaced by the new model, which is 75kg lighter. Cheng said light-weight motorcycles are easier for ambulancemen to drive than heavy vehicles with higher horsepower.

"The motorcycles are relatively light and easy to handle, especially on complex roads,'' said senior ambulanceman Fan Ka-man.

Cheng said the noiseless new motorcycles will be preferred in rural areas or at sporting events such as marathons.

In line with the government's policies on popularizing electric vehicles, Cheng said 66 small and medium private vehicles will also be replaced by electric cars in five years.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com