Functional types

Ambulances can be grouped into types depending on their function; that is whether or not they transport patients, and under what conditions:

1. Emergency Ambulance - The most common type of ambulance, which provide care to patients with an acute illness or injury. These can be road going vans, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft,(known as air ambulance) or even converted vehicles such as gold garts. 
2. Patient Transport Ambulance - A vehicle which has the job of transporting patients to, from or between places of medical treatment, such as hospital or dialysis center, for non-urgent care. These can be vans, buses, or other vehicles.
3. Response Unit - Also known as a "fly-car", which is a vehicle which is used to reach an acutely ill patient quickly, and provide on scene care, but lacks the capacity to transport the patient from the scene. Response units may be backed up by an emergency ambulance which can transport the patient, or may deal with the problem on scene, with no requirement for a transport ambulance. These can be a wide variety of vehicles, from standard cars, to modified vans, motorcycles, pedal cycles, quad bikes, or horses. These units can function as supervisors' vehicles (similar to a Fire Chief's vehicle, but for ambulance services).
4. Charity Ambulance - A special type of patient transport ambulance is provided by a charity for the purpose of taking sick children or adults on trips or vacations away from hospitals, hospices or care homes where they are in long term care. Examples include the United Kingdom's 'Jumbulance' project.^[4] These are usually based on a bus.

Vehicle types

Ambulances can be based on many types of vehicle, although emergency and  disaster conditions may lead to other vehicles serving as makeshift ambulances:

1. Van -  A typical ambulance is of a van construction, based on a standard chassis, usually with a maximum road weight loaded of between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. In North America, the large box type vehicles are referred to as "mods" (modular) and the smaller van type vehicle is often called a "high-top".
2. Car/SUV - Used either as a fly-car for rapid response or for patients who can sit, these are standard car models adapted to the requirements of the service using them. Some cars are capable of taking a stretcher with a recumbent patient, but this often requires the removal of the front passenger seat, or the use of a particularly long car. This was often the case with early ambulances, which were converted (or even serving) hearses , as these were some of the few vehicles able to accept a human body in a supine position. 
3. Motorcycle -  In developed areas, these are used almost exclusively for rapid response in an emergency^[5] as they can travel through heavy traffic much faster than a car or van, although in the developing world, trailer, o r sidecar adaptations make these patient transporting units.^[6][7]
4. Bicycle -  Used for response, but usually in pedestrian only areas where road vehicles find access difficult.^[8][9]
5. All Terrain Vehicle -  Such as a 'quad bike', these are used for response off road,^[10] especially at events. ATVs can be modified to carry a stretcher, and are used for tasks such as mountain rescue in inaccessible areas.
6. Golf cart -  Used for rapid response at events.^[11] Function similar to ATVs, with less rough terrain capability, but with less noise.
7. Helicopter -  Usually used for emergency care, either in places inaccessible by road, or in areas where speed is of the essence, as they are able to travel significantly faster than a road ambulance.^[12]
8. Fixed wing aircraft -  These can be used for either acute emergency care in remote areas (such as in Australia, with their 'Flying Doctors"  '^[13]) or for patient transport over long distances (usually a re-patriation following an illness or injury in a foreign country.^[14][15])
9. Boat - Boats can be used to serve as ambulances, especially in island areas.^[16] Some lifeboats or lifeguards  vessels may fit the description of an ambulance as they are used to transport a casualty.
10. Ship -  Ships can be used as hospital ships, mostly operated by national military services,^[17] although some ships are operated by charities.^[18] This can meet the definition of ambulances as they provide transport to the sick and wounded (along with treatment). These are often send to disaster or war zones to provide care for the casualties of these events.

***********

References from site:

1. ^ ^{a b} Jumbulance Travel Trust - Questions and Answers. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
2. ^ Hampshire ambulance service shows 4 Rapid Response motorcycles amongst it's fleet. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
3. ^ ^{a b} News Reference to Motorcycle Trailer Ambulance. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
4. ^ ^{a b} Motorcycle Trailer-Ambulance Brochure by IT Transport LTD. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
5. ^ London Ambulance Servce Press release on the use of cycles. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
6. ^ London Ambulance Service Press Release on expansion of cycle service. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
7. ^ Information on Quadtech EMS quad. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
8. ^ EMS golf cart brochure. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
9. ^ London Air Ambulance statement on speed and efficiency. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
10. ^ ^{a b} Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
11. ^ Heathrow Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
12. ^ Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
13. ^ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
14. ^ US Navy Military Sealift Command - Hospital Ships. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
15. ^ Mercy Ships - Hospital Ships. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.