Why Now Is the Right Time to Electrify Public Sector Fleets
Across the UK, public sector fleet electrification is an active priority. The NHS and local authorities are transitioning from pilot schemes to multi-site rollouts, supported by a combination of government funding, procurement frameworks, and clear carbon reduction targets.
In England, the central government has pledged significant investment to expand access to EV charging infrastructure, including dedicated support for NHS fleet EV charging solutions. Local councils are tapping into the Local EV infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to address community charging gaps, while many NHS Trusts are benefitting from the NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme.
The NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme is an £8 million initiative launched in 2024 to help trusts rapidly expand their on-site EV charging infrastructure. It focuses on operational fleets, staff vehicles, and visitor access at hospitals and healthcare facilities, with awards distributed across more than 60 NHS Trusts and over 200 sites. The scheme is designed to ensure NHS organisations can meet their net zero travel and transport commitments while maintaining service continuity.
For NHS estates managers and local authority fleet teams, the challenge now is execution: choosing the right EV fleet charging solutions, securing funding, navigating procurement, and ensuring the electric vehicle infrastructure is fit for purpose from day one.
Who This Guide Is For
NHS: Estates & Facilities teams, Fleet & Transport managers, Sustainability/Net Zero officers, Procurement and Finance leads.
Local Government: Fleet managers, Highways/Parking teams, Sustainability officers, Procurement and Legal departments.
These groups share a common need: scalable, compliant, and cost-effective charging solutions that can support multiple vehicle types and duty cycles, all while meeting environmental targets and budget constraints. Learn more about our approach on the Government EV charging solutions page.
Why This Guide Matters Now
Policy is aligned with funding: LEVI for councils, NHS Chargepoint Accelerator for Trusts, Workplace Charging Scheme for both.
Procurement routes are clearer: CCS RM6213 gives compliant, tested options that avoid procurement bottlenecks.
Technology is maturing: Hardware and software now offer flexibility, interoperability, and future-proofing that simply didn’t exist in earlier rollouts.
This is the moment to get ahead of the curve and make decisions now that will serve your organisation for the next decade.
3 Funding Routes for NHS and Local Government Fleets
1. LEVI (Local EV Infrastructure) Fund: For Local Authorities
The LEVI Fund supports councils to plan, procure, and deliver EV chargepoints in neighbourhoods and workplaces. It includes both capital funding (for the installation of chargers) and capability funding (to build internal expertise). If your fleet charging needs overlap with community or staff charging, LEVI can be used to co-fund mixed-use sites. Visit our LEVI funding resource hub to explore how Blink supports councils through the application and delivery process.
Blink has been named preferred bidder by Brighton & Hove City Council for a 15-year, £500k+ LEVI-funded programme to install at least 350 chargers, enhancing both public and council EV access across the region. For more details on eligibility and process, see our LEVI FAQs.
2. NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme: For NHS Trusts
A dedicated £8m funding pot has been made available to accelerate the rollout of EV charge points across NHS estates. The scheme focuses on operational fleet needs but can also support staff charging infrastructure where appropriate. Award lists are publicly available, making it easy to benchmark project size, costs, and scope against other trusts.
3. Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS): For Depots, Hospitals, and Education
This is open to councils, NHS organisations, and the education sector. The WCS offers up to £350 per socket (up to 40 sockets per applicant) for workplace locations. It’s particularly useful for fleet depots, council offices, hospital car parks, and educational institutions where vehicles dwell for long-term periods.
Blink supported Leeds City Council in launching the UK’s first fully electric refuse vehicle hub, demonstrating how charging infrastructure can also extend to HGVs and heavy fleet vehicles.
Tip: For maximum funding efficiency, consider pairing LEVI or NHS Accelerator support with WCS contributions for separate socket allocations at the same site.
Procurement Routes: Fast, Compliant, and Scalable
Crown Commercial Service (CCS): Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions (RM6213)
Available to both councils and NHS organisations, RM6213 covers end-to-end EV charging solutions. The framework includes standardised documentation and evaluation templates, making it easier to run competitions and ensuring suppliers meet technical, safety, and compliance standards.
Blink Charging has delivered projects through these frameworks, including NHS-wide rollouts such as the King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust installation at Orpington’s Princess Royal University Hospital: 41 chargers, 21 contactless payment terminals, and a model for mixed-use hospital charging.
Designing Fleet EV Charging Solutions for Operational Reality
The most effective fleets are not built on “one-size-fits-all” charging. Instead, they match charger type and power output to vehicle duty cycles, site constraints, and operational needs.
1. Pool Cars & Staff Fleet Vehicles (4-8 Hour Dwell)
AC 7-22kW bays, ideally near staff parking areas.
RFID or driver app for secure access and cost-centre allocation.
Dynamic load management to optimise available power without expensive DNO upgrades.
2. Community & Outreach Teams (Short Dwell, Frequent Returns)
AC bays at base sites, supplemented with 50kW DC “top-up” chargers.
Consider a home charging solution for community teams, with reimbursement aligned to HMRC’s Advisory Electricity Rate (currently 7p per mile from 1 June 2025).
3. Emergency & Blue-Light Vehicles (Minimal Downtime)
High-power DC charging (50-200kW) at operational hubs.
Clear priority charging protocols in the software to prevent bay blocking.
4) Staff & Visitor Charging
Public-facing bays with contactless payment alongside fleet-only bays. Slim Line DC works well in space-limited hospitals or council sites.
Signage and wayfinding to direct public users without interfering with fleet operations.
Software, Billing, and Reporting - Procurement Must-Haves
When writing tenders or specifications, public sector buyers should prioritise:
OCPP-compatible software for flexibility and interoperability.
Role-based access control for different driver groups (fleet, staff, public).
Tariff flexibility, allowing different rates for different user groups.
Automated reporting for finance and ESG reporting, including cost-centre tagging and exportable CSVs.
Uptime SLAs with remote diagnostics and defined response times.
Procurement teams should treat software as a core deliverable, not an afterthought.
The 10-Step Implementation Checklist for NHS & Local Government Fleets
Use this 10-step process to guide your RFP to keep projects on time, on budget, and future-ready:
Set Objectives: Define fleet size, vehicle mix, and electrification targets.
Assess Infrastructure: Review current electrical capacity and commission DNO studies.
Segment Users: Differentiate between fleet, staff, and public sector EV charging needs.
Select Hardware Mix: Choose AC/DC ratios based on dwell times and operational risk.
Plan Civils: Design for accessibility, wayfinding, and safety compliance.
Integrate Software: Ensure compatibility with OCPP, payment systems, and reporting tools.
Identify Funding: Combine LEVI, NHS Accelerator, and WCS where possible.
Choose Procurement Route: CCS RM6213 for compliance and speed.
Set SLAs: Include uptime guarantees, response times, maintenance costs, and maintenance schedules.
Plan for Scale: Build in capacity for future phases and emerging technologies such as V2G.
Frequently Asked Questions
What funding is available for fleet charging?
Councils can combine LEVI with depot or workplace funding and procure via CCS RM6213. NHS Trusts can use the NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme and can apply for WCS for workplace charging.
What’s the best AC/DC charger mix?
Match charger type to dwell time. AC for vehicles parked several hours; DC for quick turnarounds or emergency vehicles.
Can we support NHS fleet solutions' home charging units?
Yes. Many trusts run home-plus-base models for community staff, reimbursing based on HMRC’s AER.
How long does a project take?
Typically 8-16 weeks from survey to commissioning, depending on civils and DNO works.
How do we handle public charging at NHS or council sites?
Install contactless payment for visitors and segregate fleet bays to avoid conflicts.
Which frameworks should councils use?
CCS RM6213. Ensuring compliant procurement and vetted suppliers.
Why Choose Blink Charging for Public Sector Fleets
Proven NHS Delivery: Case studies across trusts, including multi-site hospital deployments.
Charger-as-a-Service: Flexible, full-service model covering design, installation, and operation.
Scalable Hardware Range: AC for dwell charging, DC for rapid turnaround.
Data & Reporting: ESG-ready dashboards, cost-centre tracking, and automated exports using the Blink Network.
Framework Experience: Active supplier on CCS RM6213.
