Paramedics Introduce New Battery TechnologyPINELLAS COUNTY - Sunstar Paramedics in Pinellas County unveiled a prototype vehicle that is equipped with a roof-mounted solar panel that supplies energy to an auxiliary battery powering on-board chargers and replacement batteries. In low light conditions the battery system switches to power provided by the vehicle’s engine to ensure 24/7 reliability. It has the ability to maintain battery charges even after long periods in the field. Sunstar paramedic ambulance service is known for bringing life-saving, state-of-the-art technology to every medical emergency, including power stretchers, 12-lead cardiac defibrillators, laptop computers, portable radios, GPS tracking devices and other battery operated equipment. If the prototype is successful, Sunstar’s entire fleet will be “going green.” The solar panels would reduce the electrical demand necessary to charge hundreds of individual batteries daily. Ambulance services nationwide are tasked with keeping their batteries operational while the trucks are in the field. Sunstar's introduction of the new technology is the first known ambulance service use of solar energy to keep batteries fully charged in the country.
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