NHS to save up to £130m through new onsite EV chargers

The NHS in England has said it’s set to save up to £130m following the Government’s pledge to invest £8m in charging.

Announced in July as part of a £63m investment package to boost charging infrastructure across the UK, the £8m cash will power the electrification of ambulances and medical fleets across over 200 NHS sites thanks to 1,200+ new charging sockets. The funding, spanning 62 NHS trusts, is expected to see a return on investment in just four years.

The NHS, which runs the second-largest vehicle fleet in the country, just behind Royal Mail, said it was hugely encouraged by the investment, which will help cut charging costs, support ownership and accelerate the shift to cleaner, greener transport across the UK.

The funding also demonstrates the renewed commitment in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan to deliver a more sustainable NHS.

“By investing in electric charge points across NHS sites, we’ll reduce fuel and maintenance costs – savings that can be redirected straight back into frontline care,” a spokesperson said.

Tracy Nicholls, chief executive at the College of Paramedics, commented: “This is a vital step forward in supporting ambulance services to operate more sustainably, in line with our commitment as members of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change and our collective focus on meaningful change to reduce the impact of air pollution on our patients and communities.

“By supporting ambulance services to move to electric vehicles, we not only reduce emissions and improve air quality, but also save money. We urge the Government to maintain this funding long-term to ensure the UK ambulance sector can continue its essential transition to greener, more sustainable fleets.”

Anna Parry, managing director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), went on: “In some parts of the country, electric ambulances and response cars have already been successfully tried and tested, showing how transitioning the ambulance fleet to electric vehicles could significantly reduce exposure to air pollution for patients and communities, while also offering long-term savings that can be reinvested to enhance patient care.”