A smart van for when the grid goes down

Humanitarian organisation SmartAID has partnered with St John Ambulance NSW to launch a mobile communications and power vehicle designed to keep emergency responders connected when infrastructure fails.

The SmartVan was launched in Sydney last week by SmartAID, an Israeli-Australian technology-focused humanitarian group founded in Israel in 2016 by Shachar Zahavi, who also co-founded the Israeli disaster relief organisation IsraAID.

The vehicle combines satellite connectivity, off-grid power and mobile charging in a rapidly deployable platform, intended to help responders coordinate resources during disasters, major public events and community emergencies.

It carries Starlink satellite communications, solar power and charging infrastructure, alongside St John NSW medical equipment including an automated external defibrillator, oxygen, medical kits and a carry chair, and is equipped to support a command team.

The SmartVan had already been used at Sydney events including the Sydney Marathon and City2Surf before last Wednesday’s formal launch at St John NSW headquarters in Macquarie Park.

SmartAID chair and global ambassador Alethea Gold said the launch showed what could be achieved when humanitarian organisations, emergency services, technology companies and philanthropy worked together.

“The SmartVan is a practical example of technology being placed directly into the hands of those responding when communities need them most,” Gold said. “It will help maintain communications, power essential equipment and strengthen coordination in environments where conventional systems may be damaged, overloaded or unavailable.”

SmartAID program manager Andrina Grynberg said no single organisation could respond to the growing scale and complexity of disasters alone.

“The real strength of the SmartVan lies not only in its technology, but in the collaboration behind it,” Grynberg said. “Bringing emergency services, humanitarian organisations, technology leaders, philanthropic partners and community representatives together allows us to combine expertise, resources and experience.”

SmartAID works in more than 40 countries and has run programs including internet-connected classrooms for Ukrainian refugee children across Poland, Moldova and Ukraine. It was one of the few Israeli organisations to operate in Gaza during the war, helping establish refugee camps and supply thousands of tents through partner organisations, and has also delivered aid to Lebanese civilians displaced by the fighting with Hezbollah.

The Australian project was made possible through technology and support from Telstra, Ericsson, ChargeSpot and Starlink, with SmartAID also acknowledging the Wolper Jewish Hospital Health Foundation and private donors.

Richard Glass and Jaqui Herman represented the Wolper foundation at the launch, which also drew representatives from the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW, and the Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Tonga, Louise Waterhouse.

SmartAID and St John NSW said they would continue developing the SmartVan’s capabilities and explore opportunities to deploy it during emergencies, community events and disaster response.