Over 75% of NHS hospital sites lack EV chargers
Our new data shows that a huge portion of NHS hospitals have no access to electric car chargers
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More than three quarters of NHS hospital sites across England don’t have any electric vehicle (EV) chargers, according to our new analysis.
Data from the latest available NHS Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) shows that just 670 out of 2,901 hospital sites (23%) currently offer EV charging for staff or visitors.
That leaves 76.9% of NHS sites without any EV charging access at all, and just 4,908 charging points recorded across the entire NHS estate.
The findings also highlight where EV charging is most and least available across the NHS estate. Access varies significantly across the country, with infrastructure often clustered within a relatively small number of trusts.
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EV chargers vary widely by region
EV charging infrastructure differs considerably between regions, both in terms of total chargers and how widely they are distributed across sites.
The North East and Yorkshire region has the highest number of chargers overall, with 1,098 recorded across 450 sites. However, even in the best-performing region, more than two thirds (69%) of sites still have no chargers.
At the opposite end of the scale, the South West has just 277 chargers across 285 sites, with 82% of locations offering no EV charging at all.
This means electric car drivers will need to find alternative spots to charge up when visiting many hospitals.
EV charging provision by region:
North East & Yorkshire – 1,098 chargers across 450 sites (69% without chargers)
Midlands – 850 chargers across 584 sites (80% without chargers)
London – 749 chargers across 483 sites (78% without chargers)
North West – 723 chargers across 401 sites (77% without chargers)
South East – 646 chargers across 403 sites (72% without chargers)
East of England – 565 chargers across 295 sites (79% without chargers)
South West – 277 chargers across 285 sites (82% without chargers)
Taken together, the figures suggest a large share of EV charging is concentrated within a relatively small number of sites, while most hospital locations offer no charging points at all.
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, says: “It’s encouraging to see some regions and trusts making progress, with over 1,000 chargers in the North East and Yorkshire.
“That shows investment is happening, but the challenge now is making sure it's spread more evenly so electric car drivers can benefit.”
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Which NHS trusts are leading on EV charging?
At trust level, a relatively small number of organisations account for a large share of the infrastructure currently in place.
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has the highest number of chargers recorded (129), followed by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (120) and Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (101).
NHS trusts with the highest number of EV chargers:
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – 129 chargers
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – 120 chargers
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – 101 chargers
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust – 95 chargers
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 88 chargers
Major trusts still without EV charging
Despite progress in some areas, several large trusts currently report no EV charging provision at all:
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust – 0 chargers
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust – 0 chargers
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – 0 chargers
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – 0 chargers
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 0 chargers
Ben adds: “It’s surprising to see some major hospital trusts still reporting no EV charging at all, particularly when they operate multiple sites."
What this means for drivers
While 4,908 charging points are recorded across the NHS estate, the data shows that access is still limited at most hospital sites.
For staff working long shifts and patients who rely on driving to attend appointments, on-site charging can save the stress of needing to plan an alternative charging location.
Ben says: “For staff, patients and their visitors, knowing you’ll be able to charge up when you’re there is one less thing to worry about.
“As more drivers switch to electric vehicles, expanding charging in everyday locations like hospitals is a key element of making that transition easy.”
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