UK: £4 million boost to accelerate electrification of NHS fleet
The funding comes from the Department for Transport. It is an extension to the NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme to support the rollout of hundreds of additional EV charging sockets across NHS sites in England. The money is intended to accelerate the electrification of what is described as the UK’s second-largest fleet, covering around 20,000 medical vehicles.
The latest allocation brings combined government investment in NHS charging infrastructure to £22 million, following £10 million awarded by the Department of Health and Social Care last month and £8 million from the Department for Transport last year. According to the government, the programme has already supported the delivery of more than 1,000 charging sockets to power electric ambulances and fleet vehicles.
Furthermore, the official press release states that electrifying the fleet will help decarbonise 460 million miles of travel each year while generating savings on fuel and maintenance. These savings will be reinvested into frontline services, though the exact amount is not mentioned. However, Chris Gormley, Chief Sustainability Officer at NHS England, is quoted as saying that zero-emission vehicles are ‘expected to save the NHS tens of millions every year, which can then be reinvested directly into frontline care for patients.’
“Backing the switch to electric for our NHS fleet will save our health sector millions and help to clean up 460 million miles worth of journeys across England – that’s good for taxpayers, patients and our communities,” said Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather.
“With cleaner vehicles and lower fuel bills for the NHS, everybody wins,” added Health Minister Karin Smyth. “Savings made from this investment will be redirected back to where they’re needed – getting patients seen on time again.”
The government also noted that additional measures to support electrification include continued funding for public chargepoint deployment and grant schemes to reduce installation costs for homes and workplaces, alongside purchase incentives for electric cars.
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