For paramedics, the front cab of an ambulance is part of the workplace. During a shift, different crew members may take the wheel, each with a different height, build, and preferred driving position. Crews had come to expect a driver’s seat that could accommodate those differences.
So, when Ford discontinued the factory power seat on its E-Series cutaway chassis, the change did not go unnoticed.
As ambulances built on the updated chassis began reaching the field in 2025, feedback followed. Customers and paramedics wanted the adjustability they had before, particularly the ability to adjust seat height, fore-and-aft position, and lumbar support.
The same need also surfaced through customer discussions and focus groups. Knowing that the front cab is an integral part of a paramedic’s work environment, the Demers team quickly set out to address the issue.
“When you consider how much time paramedics spend in the front cab, ergonomics is not a minor detail. Ford’s decision to discontinue the power seat had a real impact on their work environment. Our customers told us what they needed, and we took on the challenge. That’s what it means to be a partner of choice.”
The Demers team began looking for a solution that would be both robust and practical.
Finding the right solution
The first step was to look at solutions already available on the market. An alternative power seat provided a way to restore adjustability, but it also required removing the original Ford seat entirely. That presented several compromises. While it did the job, the solution came with compromises. It meant discarding a perfectly usable OEM seat and was not as naturally suited to the ambulance environment.
The team kept looking.
This time, the objective was twofold: restore the adjustability paramedics were looking for while finding a way to keep the original Ford seat. Sustainability became one of the key criteria guiding the development of the new solution. The result, the new Driver Power Seat, is a solution that combines the existing Ford seat with a new powered base and adapters designed for the ambulance application.
The driver can once again electrically adjust seat height, fore-and-aft position, and lumbar support, while retaining the original Ford seat. This approach also helps maintain continuity across a fleet: the same Ford seat, with the same adjustment options.
Simple once installed, the solution required significant precision behind the scenes.
Designing around the driver, the ambulance and Ford requirements
Replacing the original seat base in the cab presented several challenges. The seat and its installation are part of a system designed and certified to applicable safety standards. Any modification therefore had to be made without compromising vehicle compliance or occupant safety.
To develop the solution, the Demers team validated the range of positions available with the new power base to ensure it remained within Ford’s established limits and recommendations. The goal was to restore the adjustability customers expected while integrating the solution seamlessly into the cab, without compromising access to controls, driver ergonomics, or the performance of safety systems.
The final solution was also tested and validated in accordance with applicable CMVSS/FMVSS requirements.
According to James Blakely, who supported the solution’s certification, this was an essential part of the process:
“We wanted all of the vehicle’s systems to work together with the seat so that, in the event of an impact, the occupant would be controlled in the same way as with the original Ford seat and base.”
“The goal wasn’t simply to bring the power seat back. It was to do it the right way: with a safe, sustainable solution that keeps the original Ford seat, restores the full range of adjustability customers expect and can also be offered as a retrofit for vehicles already in service.”
Available for new ambulances and retrofits
The new driver power seat option is available on applicable new Demers ambulances built on the Ford E-Series chassis. Customers with units already on order but not yet in production may also be able to add the option through a change order. Those customers should contact their Regional Sales Manager to discuss their specific order.
The solution has also been developed with retrofit capability for eligible Ford E-Series ambulances already in service. That means fleets with vehicles affected by Ford’s discontinuation of the factory power seat may have an opportunity to restore power adjustability without waiting for their next replacement cycle.
Customers interested in retrofitting existing ambulances can now let us know they are interested and provide an estimated number of units. This information will help the Demers team plan demand and the rollout of the retrofit program.
Interested in bringing power adjustability back to your Ford E-Series ambulances?
Tell us about your fleet and how many units may be involved.