Every vehicle has a shelf life, including those used for emergency response.

Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association unveiled the latest addition to its fleet, a 2014 PL Custom ambulance, Wednesday at its Mill Road headquarters.Robert W. Miller Jr., ambulance association treasurer, said the $180,000 vehicle will replace a PL Custom purchased in 2003."The 2003 unit has about 61,000 miles on it," Miller said. "The plan right now is to sell it to Lehighton Ambulance Association. It's 11 years old and ambulances just depreciate in value over time, just like anything else."Miller did not specify a sale price for the 2003 unit.Mahoning purchased the new ambulance from Spitler Vehicle Specialties, a central Pennsylvania dealer. It will join a 2010 PL Custom as Mahoning's two active response vehicles."This is almost exactly the same inside as our 2010 model," Miller said. "I anticipate at some point we'll be putting computers inside this one. That would be a first for us."The computers, association President Lewis Exner said, would allow emergency responders to enter data into the system on the way back from a call. That information could be accessed by someone back at the station."It just streamlines the whole process," Exner said.Also owned by Mahoning, but no longer used to transport patients, is a 1972 Cadillac ambulance."We take it to shows and parades," Exner said. "It's a relic, but it means a lot to us."Mahoning ValleyAmbulance Association, founded in 1973, provides24-hour emergency response to residents in Mahoning and East Penn townships.