Houston’s Fire Department is facing operational setbacks due to recurring malfunctions in its fleet of environmentally friendly ambulances, raising concerns about emergency response readiness.
An internal report from August detailed frequent failures affecting the eco-friendly units, which were introduced under former Mayor Sylvester Turner’s administration.
The city purchased 21 of the ambulances for $5.9 million from manufacturer Frazer in 2022 to promote cleaner air through vehicles designed to power onboard systems without running the engine continuously.
Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz confirmed that the department has struggled to keep the ambulances in service due to charging and reliability issues. The vehicles must be plugged in for one and a half to two hours at fire stations, but high call volumes often prevent crews from dedicating that time. As a result, several units have been sidelined.
Mayor John Whitmire said he was recently made aware of the problem, describing the electric ambulances as “electric tanks” and emphasizing the need for reliability in first responder vehicles. Houston Professional Firefighters Association President Marty Lancton echoed concerns, noting that delays in emergency response can endanger lives.
Frazer stated that all serviced ambulances have been restored to operational condition and that it continues to coordinate with the department to resolve any issues.
Chief Muñoz, who took office after the vehicles were acquired, noted that each eco-friendly unit cost about $40,000 more than a traditional ambulance. He confirmed that the department will not pursue additional purchases of this model.
The city continues to assess how to balance environmental goals with the operational demands of emergency response as it plans future fleet acquisitions.
