Cardiff-based connectivity specialist Excelerate Technology has, this week, been appointed to provide the optional state-of-the-art satellite and hybrid connectivity systems on the world’s most advanced fully electric ambulance, the INTEGRO-E, by its manufacturer.
These will enable the ambulance to deliver hospital-level clinical care at the scene of an incident or at the point of collection, through the world’s most advanced telemedicine technologies.
INTEGRO-E is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur/inventor, Phil Bevan, founder of Norfolk based R&D company Bevan Davidson International Ltd.
The revolutionary ambulance, which is designed for a range of up to 1,000 miles and is capable of speeds of almost 100 miles an hour, debuted in prototype form at the Emergency Services Show at the NEC last September. The first demonstration INTEGRO-E will be a fully operable version including a full suite of Excelerate’s voice and data connectivity systems during September.
The prototype INTEGRO-E will be shown at the Ambulance Leadership Forum, taking place in Hinckley, Leicestershire, on 6 and 7 September, and will be fitted with Excelerate’s Excell antenna used for optimising 4G cellular connectivity and Hybrid Edge Appliance router, with the ability to install a flat panel satellite antenna for use in the most remote and rural areas.
The INTEGRO-E makes use of the vehicle’s unique double rear axle. Making its rear-most axle and rear chassis section separate from the main ambulance effectively creates a detachable trailer system that can that fit neatly onto the main chassis. This can then be pulled into place and removed via a hydraulic ram, all controlled from inside the driving compartment.
The vehicle’s batteries are housed within the depth of the trailer and have the capacity equal to one Audi E-tron. The remaining batteries equal to three Audi E-tron battery packs are in the main ambulance chassis, below the floor level. As a result, the ambulance weight is under the limit of 4.25 tons, meaning that it can be driven legally without the need for an HGV C1 license.
Working with Excelerate enables the INTEGRO-E to be fitted with the latest developments in hybrid connectivity, including Excelerate’s market-leading solution, which offers permanent, unbreakable connectivity (via a hybrid of 4G, 5G and satellite) forming the basis upon which a whole new spectrum of healthcare applications and systems can be adopted. These can open up completely new pathways of care, at the same time enabling a range of applications to work seamlessly together to significantly improve patient experiences while transforming a large part of the way ambulance services deliver ‘see and treat’ care.
Offering Excelerate’s systems, INTEGRO-E will become a ‘connected ambulance’, effectively becoming a remote consultation room where paramedics will have the ability to access medical records remotely through secure connection to the Health and Social Care Network, as well as call on the support of specialist clinicians to assess patient conditions and provide treatment en route to hospitals and medical centres, which includes live video feeds over a dedicated and secure network.
Transforming the potential of paramedicine in this way will enable faster diagnosis and treatment by bringing in the right people and right information at the right time, regardless of location.
Commenting on the suppliers, David Dunn, joint managing director of International Ambulances, said: ‘There’s no better organisation, either within the blue light or open marketplace, for delivering resilient connectivity solutions than Excelerate Technology, and that’s why we wanted them as our exclusive connectivity partners.
‘What we have here is best in class partnering with best in class. Our ambulances serve our vision for the future of paramedicine where clinical professionals can deliver hospital-level care in even the most remote locations, and the robust and resilient connectivity provided by Excelerate are going to help us deliver our vision.’
Bethan Evans, chief operating officer at Excelerate Technology, said: ‘We are thrilled to have been appointed supplier by INTEGRO-E for this highly innovative ambulance, which brings together the best in resilient connectivity with space age vehicle design and manufacture, one which promises to revolutionise the way in which paramedicine is delivered to improve the patient pathway, experience and, most important of all, patient outcomes.’
