I'm gonna try to clear things up on the topic of EMS vehicles without getting into the debate above.
The companies that build EMS vehicles do not build the whole thing from the wheels up.
They buy rolling chassis from manufacuters like Ford, GM, freightliner, etc.
We all know that those companies build a common frame, engine, transmission combo from
which any kind of body can be placed on top. For example, it could become an F550 pickup
truck or an ambulance and what is underneath those bodies are all the same.
So, the ambulance gets all the same emmissions stuff that the F550 does.
And in the end, Ford for example, does not care how their products will be used.
Now, does the chassis builder inform the EMS vehicle builder of any of these potential issues?
No. And they were either unaware or did not care.
The EMS vehicle builder has been buying these chassis for many many years and their only
real concern is the frame attachment points so they can set their body on top. So any
changes to the engine and emissions equipment go largely unnoticed.
The Police or Fire Dept that buys from the EMS builder has been buying from the same
builders for many many years. They will pretty much accept whatever engine chassis combo
is available as long as the body meets all their specifications and everything fits into their
budget. Unfortuantly, these departments have to deal with all the problems that were developed
far, far upstream in the process.
The government does not mandate emissions requirements for EMS vehicles.
They do mandate emissions requirements for for all other over-the-road diesel applications.
As I stated above, the manufacurers build a common chassis combo onto which any body can be
built with little variation.
Now I will say this about government emissions standards...
The U.S. Government has the largest fleet of diesel powered vehicles and only a small fraction
of which have any kind of emissions equipment.
Granted, these vehicles see very few over-the-road miles, but could this be considered a
double standard?