All-electric mobile lung unit highlights zero-emissions healthcare

The eMLU vehicle is wrapped featuring the American Lung Association and the Ad Council's Saved By The Scan initiative to promote the early detection of lung cancer through screening. According to the American Lung Association, approximately 8 million people in the US are at high risk for lung cancer and are eligible for screening.

While the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends lung cancer screening through low-dose CT scanners for those considered at high risk, screening is currently underutilised. To help increase awareness and availability of screening for those considered high risk, the eMLU can travel city-to-city to provide easy access to lung diagnostic services.

Winnebago is displaying the vehicle in San Francisco, at both CALSTART's Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero Workshop on September 11th and the Global Climate Action Summit.

"We are proud to help increase access to life-saving lung cancer screenings in the clean, quiet and emissions free environment of the first all-electric Mobile Lung Unit," said Ashis Bhattacharya, Vice President, Strategic Planning and Development, and leader of Winnebago's Specialty Vehicles Division.

"As states provide incentives and broaden anti-idling laws, we expect the medical community to adopt the customisable all-electric community outreach vehicle for a variety of functions, such as lung cancer screening, asthma management and support, blood donation, dentistry or primary care."

"Health systems are continuously looking for more efficient ways to deliver high-quality care to patients in the community, especially those patients beyond their immediate sphere of care," said David Webster, Chief Operating Officer of NeuroLogica.

"One way to do this is through the use of mobile medical units. With its self-sufficient battery power, the BodyTom Elite-equipped electric Winnebago is suited for these mobile care environments, while doing so the 'green' way. We look forward to patients receiving emissions-free lung cancer screenings with the electric mobile lung unit."

Mobile Lung Unit features:

• The world's first portable, battery-powered, full-body, 32-slice CT scanner, BodyTom, featuring an innovative internal drive system that can be easily transported
• Motiv Power Systems all-electric/zero-emissions EPIC chassis, removing the need to idle an engine
• Vehicle holds enough charge for eight hours of service plus round-trip travel to and from its home facility
• Vehicle charges to half its full capacity in two hours and 75% of capacity in four hours
• Vehicle has completed significant road testing and delivers an expected range of 85 to 125 miles on a full charge.

Winnebago partnered with Motiv Power Systems, the US market leader in chassis for medium-duty electric vehicles, for the development and supply of the EPIC all-electric powered chassis after their joint strategic partnership announcement earlier this year.

Based on the average cost of fuel in the US, the eMLU is expected to save $150,000-$200,000 in combined diesel fuel and maintenance savings. Winnebago anticipates the ROI of eMLU vehicles compared to internal combustion engine versions to be as little as three years.

"The world's first all-electric Mobile Lung Unit is a big milestone in the trend of bringing care direct to the consumer without harming patients, health, or the environment," said Jim Castelaz, Motiv CEO & Founder.

"Motiv's Ford eQVM approved EPIC all-electric chassis, paired with Winnebago Industries' highly regarded commercial shell, brings unparalleled reliable performance and functionality as we work together to electrify the speciality vehicle market."