Turbo Master ambulance
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THE FIRST turbocharged Renault enter service with a UK Health with West Yorkshire Metropolitan The petrol-engined 3.5-tonne gvw T35 long wheelbase Master is "an entirely new concept in front line ambulance," according to WYMAS's chief engineer Brian Kershaw, who has been jointly responsible with Renault for the vehicle's development.
To increase the Master's performance, the naturally-aspirated 1,995cc four-cylinder Renault engine has been specially turbocharged with all conversion work carried out by PAO Preparations of Aldbourne, Wiltshire.
PAO has recently carried out similar turbocharging work for VAG on a Volkswagen LT31 (CM, October 27).
Maximum power has been raised from 58kW(78bhp) to 71kW(95bhp) at 5,000 rpm while peak torque is now .177Nm (131 lbft) at 3,100 rpm compared to 144Nrn (106 Haft) at 2,300 rpm on the naturally-aspirated engine. Master front line ambulance to Authority has begun operating Ambulance Service.
In recent tests carried out by PAO in conjunction with Renault and monitored by WYMAS the turbocharged Master ambulance out-performed a 3litre V6 petrol-engined Ford Transit front line ambulance in acceleration tests returning a 060mph time of 21.2 seconds.
Fuel consumption on the turbocharged Master, which has bodywork by Taurus Bodies of Stockport, is expected to be better than the 3-litre Transits already operated by WYMAS, according to Mr Kershaw.
Transit ambulances are currently returning between 14 and 15 mpg, and Mr Kershaw expects the Master to give 18 to 19 mpg.
The development of turbocharged engines for emergency vehicles could signal a trend away from the large displacement naturally aspirated engines currently used in UK ambulances.