The NHS, which operates the second-largest vehicle fleet in the UK after Royal Mail, is set to speed up its electric vehicle transition thanks to an £8 million government investment. The funding, part of a wider £63 million UK initiative to expand EV infrastructure, will support the decarbonisation of over 20,000 NHS vehicles that cover more than 460 million miles each year.
The NHS fleet plays a critical role in delivering services — from ambulances and patient transport to maintenance and essential deliveries — but also contributes to air pollution, which causes around 36,000 deaths annually in the UK. By committing to a fully decarbonised fleet by 2040, the NHS aims to cut emissions, improve public health, and reduce costs.
£63 million EV investment to benefit NHS sites nationwide
The nationwide EV funding package will reduce charging costs, support EV ownership, and accelerate the shift to cleaner transport. Of the total, the NHS will receive £8 million to install electric chargepoints across 224 sites spanning 62 NHS trusts. This initiative is expected to save the NHS £130 million over 25 years, with a return on investment in just four years.
By cutting fuel and maintenance expenses, the savings can be reinvested directly into frontline patient care.
Ambulance services at the forefront of the EV transition
A significant share of the funding — £3.5 million — will go to installing chargepoints across all ten NHS ambulance trusts. Electric ambulances and rapid response vehicles have already been trialled successfully in several regions, reducing exposure to harmful emissions while delivering operational savings.
Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of The College of Paramedics, called the investment “a vital step forward” in supporting ambulance services to operate more sustainably. She urged the government to maintain long-term funding to ensure the full transition to greener fleets.
Anna Parry, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), said the investment aligns with the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, highlighting that electric ambulances could significantly improve air quality for patients and communities.
A healthier, more sustainable future for the NHS
The funding underlines the government’s commitment to the NHS’s sustainability goals. By supporting the transition to electric vehicles, the initiative will help protect patients and communities from the health impacts of air pollution while ensuring more resources are directed towards care where they are needed most.
