LAFD Adds Electric Motorcycles for EMS and Rescue in Hard-to-Reach Areas

Donated by Google and YouTube, the new fleet will help LAFD and Arcadia firefighters reach injured or stranded people faster in rough terrain, traffic and crowds.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:06pm

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The Los Angeles Fire Department has added a fleet of 30 electric motorcycles donated by Google and YouTube to support EMS and rescue operations. The bikes are intended to help firefighters and EMTs access rugged and hard-to-reach mountainous terrain more quickly, allowing them to identify hazardous conditions, locate and treat injured or stranded people, and coordinate transport when seconds matter.

Why it matters

The new electric motorcycles will improve emergency response times in areas with limited access, such as rough terrain or heavy traffic congestion, where traditional fire trucks and ambulances may struggle to reach people in need of critical care. This could be especially valuable during natural disasters or other emergency situations.

The details

The electric motorcycles are not patrol vehicles but mobile medical units assigned to the LAFD's disaster response section and fully integrated into its dispatch and command system. The bikes can navigate traffic, crowds, and hard-to-reach areas, allowing responders to deliver critical care and real-time intelligence when seconds matter.

  • The electric motorcycles were donated to the LAFD and Arcadia Fire Department on April 1, 2026.

The players

LAFD

The Los Angeles Fire Department, which is implementing the new electric motorcycle program to improve emergency response times in hard-to-reach areas.

Google

The technology company that donated the fleet of 30 electric motorcycles to the LAFD and Arcadia Fire Department.

YouTube

The video-sharing platform that, along with Google, donated the electric motorcycles to the LAFD and Arcadia Fire Department.

Jamie Moore

The LAFD Chief who stated that in emergency situations, "time is not just important, it's everything," highlighting the value of the new electric motorcycles.

Adam Stewart

A Google executive who spoke at the news conference announcing the donation of the electric motorcycles, stating they are intended to help firefighters carry out their critical work more effectively.

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What’s next

The LAFD and Arcadia Fire Department will begin integrating the new electric motorcycles into their emergency response operations, with plans to evaluate their effectiveness in improving response times and access to hard-to-reach areas.

The takeaway

The addition of electric motorcycles to the LAFD's fleet represents an innovative approach to enhancing emergency medical and rescue capabilities, particularly in urban and mountainous environments where traditional vehicles may struggle. This technology donation from tech giants Google and YouTube highlights the potential for public-private partnerships to support critical public safety initiatives.