ZeroRPM System Installed

August 24, 2020 | Category: News

It’s easy to picture our ambulances on-the-go during an emergency, but you may also see Cetronia ambulances idling in parking lots throughout the community in between runs. By distributing some our ambulances across the regions we serve, they can respond to incidents with maximum efficiency. Ambulances idle while waiting to keep our teams comfortable and to make sure that equipment like radios and refrigerators stay active. Idling also allows Cetronia ambulances to be on the road as soon as a call is received; however, idling can be environmentally irresponsible as well as costly. It also promotes wear and tear on ambulance engines and other equipment.

In light of this, Cetronia Ambulance #6297 was our first to be equipped with a ZeroRPM system when it was remounted this June. The goal of the ZeroRPM system is to minimize idling costs of fleet vehicles and decrease emissions caused by idling without compromising response time. This system eliminates the need to idle while still maintaining power to critical components of the ambulance. Additionally, it shuts off the ambulance engine when the vehicle is in park, but it can be immediately turned on when the vehicle is taken out of park, allowing ambulance crews to be on the road just as quickly as if the ambulance were left running.

The ZeroRPM system provides auxiliary power and temperature control to the vehicle while the unit is in park. When the battery drains below a certain level, the ZeroRPM system restarts the engine to recharge the battery before shutting the vehicle off again. This cycle can be continued indefinitely with minimal wear to the engine until the ambulance is called into action.
The ZeroRPM system was created in 2012 through the Business Incubator Program at Wallace State Community College. This system is marketed to many kinds of vehicles including ambulances, city buses, fire trucks, and armored trucks. ZeroRPM strives to significantly reduce operation and maintenance costs for these companies – many of which are nonprofit organizations like Cetronia – while improving operator safety and comfort. This aligns with our goals here at Cetronia to continue providing top quality service to our customers while maintaining the best conditions for our employees and making responsible environmental decisions for our community.

By introducing the ZeroRPM system into our ambulances, Cetronia Ambulance Corps hopes to maintain our highest standard of performance and our use of cutting-edge technology while decreasing our carbon footprint and being financially responsible about our maintenance costs. Michael Nagel, Director of Facilities and Project Management reveals that two more ambulances will be equipped with a ZeroRPM system when they are remounted this year.

Cetronia wants what’s best for our patients, customers and employees, and we look forward to continuing to improve our ambulances. For more information regarding the ZeroRPM system, visit their website.