BYD is supplying a SEALION 7 electric SUV for a six-month St John Ambulance co-responder pilot in Norfolk, working with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Volunteers will use the liveried, blue-light-equipped vehicle to reach 999 calls ahead of ambulances, offering early clinical assessment and care.
BYD is supplying a SEALION 7 electric SUV for a six-month pilot scheme in which St John Ambulance volunteers will use the vehicle to respond to 999 calls in the East of England.
The co-responder scheme, running in Norfolk, sees a St John Ambulance crew drive the SEALION 7 to medical emergencies, working alongside the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST). The pilot aims to offer clinical assessment and life-saving aid ahead of ambulance crews’ arrival, with the goal of measuring the scheme’s impact on patient outcomes and potentially expanding it to other regions of England.
BYD’s SEALION 7 will be fully liveried and fitted with blue lights. The vehicle uses a 530PS twin-motor powertrain and has an electric range of 312 miles. Its interior includes a 520-litre boot, which the crew will use to carry equipment such as defibrillators, oxygen and airway management equipment, along with emergency medicines.
According to St John Ambulance, co-responders arrive first on the scene in more than 94 percent of incidents to which they are dispatched, allowing them to begin care quickly. The charity says its co-responders have also been able to treat and discharge patients at the scene in some cases, freeing up ambulances for other calls.
According to Jeanette Griggs, national corporate and public sector manager at BYD UK, “BYD is extremely proud to support St John Ambulance by supplying a SEALION 7 for the EEAST trial.” She adds: “The vital work St John Ambulance carries out in communities across the country saves lives, and we believe the SEALION 7’s fully electric performance, impressive range and practical cabin make it ideally suited to support their co-responders. We’re excited to see the positive impact this trial will have for St John Ambulance and the communities they serve.”
Tom Willis, head of clinical standards at St John Ambulance, is leading the scheme in Norfolk and is also one of the active co-responders. According to Willis, “We are immensely grateful to BYD for loaning a fully electric response car. Having a dedicated response vehicle for this pilot is essential to ensuring our volunteers can reach patients quickly and begin care at the earliest possible moment.”
He adds: “The early results we are seeing are very encouraging. Our teams are reaching patients quickly, providing immediate care, and in some cases resolving incidents without the need for an ambulance to attend.” Willis says the loan of the vehicle will also help the charity direct donations toward life-saving interventions “rather than on rising fuel costs.”
St John Ambulance provides its services to the NHS free of charge, relying on public donations and partnerships to fund its work. The charity has set up a donation link for its work in the Norfolk area.
BYD is a China-based manufacturer of plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, with production and operations spanning more than 30 industrial parks across countries including China, the US, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary and India.
