How the Tesla Model 3 is helping northern Ontario Paramedics shift to electric

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In recent years, Teslas have become an increasingly common sight in my Northern Ontario locale. Many Sudburians, including numerous friends and colleagues in my own circle, have switched to all-electric driving, and the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y appear to be local favourites. The Tesla population in Northern Ontario is strong and growing, likely aided by Tesla’s easy-to-access Supercharger network, which nicely covers this part of the province.

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Earlier this year, four special Tesla models came to Sudbury. As part of their Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP), the City of Greater Sudbury has purchased four Tesla Model 3s for use in their EMS fleet. The move is part of a bigger-picture plan intended to give city departments some hands-on experience with EV operation, while contributing to a broader goal of becoming a net-zero community by 2050.

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The Teslas in question joined the city’s paramedic fleet, and are used by Community Paramedics to make non-urgent house calls. Though not intended to replace ambulances, the Model 3’s provide the Community Paramedics with a zero-emission alternative for attending house calls.

The Tesla Model 3’s cost about $20,000 less per unit than the comparable Chevrolet SUV’s used elsewhere in the department, dubbed Paramedic Response Units, or PRUs. Versus a gas-burning 4×4 PRU like the Tahoe, the maintenance and per-kilometre driving costs of an EV like a Tesla Model 3 are reduced to nearly-nil. Over the life cycle of the vehicles, lower purchase and operational costs become additional benefits to the reduction in emissions.

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Dennis Quenneville, a Commander with the City of Greater Sudbury’s Paramedic Services, oversees the Community Paramedic Program. He explains how his team use the Tesla Model 3’s—and one situation where they don’t.

“These vehicles are used during daytime hours, and charged at nighttime in our garage.” Says Quenneville.

“They’re used for non-emergency, non-911 calls — basically, these are scheduled calls within our Community Paramedic Program. Our nighttime operations have our typical EMS PRU vehicle, with spotlights, radio communications and other features installed to those vehicles.”

Quenneville says that the additional lighting and communication equipment installed to his team’s PRU models is important for staff safety during nighttime calls that can often take Community Paramedics to remote areas where communication and lighting may be a challenge.

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It’s currently unclear how the addition this heavy, high-draw equipment would affect the operation of the Tesla Model 3 battery, so for now, the units are reserved for daytime use. This is one example of a learning opportunity that may eventually help similar programs in other jurisdictions as they switch to an electric fleet.

The Community Paramedic Teslas have a range of about 400 kilometres, and are charged on Level 2 chargers, which can fill an empty battery overnight. Some Tesla owners install this type of charger at home, for the fastest at-home charging experience. Quenneville says the Teslas on his fleet run about 150-200 kilometres per day, and that Level 2 overnight charging ensures that the vehicles are fully charged every morning for their shift.

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As an Electric Vehicle (EV), the Tesla Model 3 boasts strong and quiet performance, and lightning-fast acceleration that’s noise-free. The Community Paramedic units are, however, speed-limited as they aren’t intended for emergency calls.

Quenneville’s team reports no issue with space for their gear and supplies, including a trunk-load of specialized electronic gear, medications, monitors, oxygen, dressings, and more. Each unit contains the necessary equipment required for both house calls, and first responder work.

The community paramedics have even made interesting use of the Tesla Model 3’s front-trunk, or ‘frunk’—a smaller, secondary storage space under the car’s hood where the engine in a conventional car goes.

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With gear and supplies in the rear trunk, the paramedics use the frunk for their own protective gear and equipment.

“It’s COVID-related” Quenneville says.

“It’s interesting—with the frunk, we’re using it for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and donning and doffing. We keep the frunk section of the vehicle as the ‘dirty’ section, and everything else is clean.”

With both a frunk and a trunk, the Community Paramedics have appreciated the ability to keep dirty and clean gear separated from one another, in storage spaces at opposite ends of the car.

For most of Quenneville’s Community Paramedics, the new additions to their fleet amount to their first experience driving an electric car. I asked him about his team’s initial impressions, and whether they had anything to get used to.

“So far, we’ve had nothing but positive praise from the staff. We do have a member who drives a Tesla, and they helped with a training program for our team. The only thing that’s taken a little getting used to is the regenerative braking system in the vehicle — though our Paramedics have been very happy that they don’t have to stop and fuel up.”