Since the COVID-19 pandemic, high-inflation rates and labor shortages throughout 2023 have led to uncertainty for healthcare facilities everywhere. In its What to expect in US healthcare in 2023 and beyond report, McKinsey & Company predicted that “Medicare Advantage within payers; care settings such as ambulatory surgery centers within providers; software and platforms (for example, patient engagement and clinical decision support) within HST and specialty pharmacy within pharmacy services” could expect high growth, but expectations had worsened for “general acute care and post-acute care within providers and Medicaid within payers.” In such an environment, healthcare facilities must find new ways to save costs and generate revenue, including adding electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Why Healthcare Facilities Should Install EVSE
With more EVs on the road, being able to charge the battery during errands and appointments is becoming a major selling point for businesses and facilities looking to attract clients and customers.
Generating Revenue
Job seekers and current staff members are looking for facilities that offer EV charging as an employee amenity, and patients and visitors are looking to recoup the energy used during their travels. But it’s not just about attracting new visitors to your healthcare facility. Many hospitals and medical centers already use parking revenue to boost revenue. As mentioned in an International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI) blog, “parking revenues can return 50 to 65 percent net margins and can provide a much-needed cushion for an ailing budget.” Paid EV charging offers another opportunity for healthcare facilities to generate an additional modest revenue stream and encourage EV drivers to park at your facility.
Savings for Fleets
Not only can EV charging stations help you generate revenue, but they can also support cost-saving fleet electrification programs. For hospitals and medical centers with an ambulatory or EMS fleet, switching from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs could save as much as 75% in fleet maintenance costs. With less maintenance and lower fuel costs, switching to an electric fleet can significantly reduce the cost of operating your fleet.
Promoting Sustainability
Statista found that about 44% of consumers globally said they were more likely to buy from a brand with a clear commitment to sustainability. And while healthcare facilities are selling a service rather than a product, sustainability may still have a similar effect on patient choice. Similarly, an IBM Institute for Business Value study found that 67% of respondents preferred to apply for jobs at companies with sustainable endeavors. Given the ongoing labor shortage in the healthcare sector, attracting talent represents a significant advantage for healthcare facilities implementing sustainable practices. But sustainability is not just a marketing technique for attracting patients and staff. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions also supports patient health. As the American Lung Association’s (ALA) Driving to Clean Air report found, switching to 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales and clean energy generation by 2050 could lead to:
$978 billion in public health benefits
89,300 fewer premature deaths
2.2 million fewer asthma attacks
10.7 million fewer lost workdays
The ALA continued to note that “over 35 percent of all Americans — approximately 120 million people — live in areas impacted by unhealthy levels of ozone and/or particle pollution… Decades of peer-reviewed research demonstrates that the burdens of unhealthy air include increased asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, lung cancer and premature death. These poor health outcomes are not shared equally, with many communities of color and lower income communities at greater risk due to increased exposure to transportation pollution.” With electric vehicle charging stations, your healthcare facility itself can support clean air and healing in your community.
Funding Help for EVSE
Healthcare operators don’t have to bear the entire expense of installing EV charging infrastructure at healthcare facilities. The federal government, along with state and local governments, and other entities like utility providers, offer programs that can assist in reducing some of these costs.
Federal Funding for EV Charging
The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, overseen by the Internal Revenue Service, offers a tax credit of up to 30% of the EVSE cost, capped at $100,000. This credit extends until the end of 2032. There are specific requirements to access this credit: the EVSE installation must be in low-income communities or non-urban census tracts. Read our deep dive about how this EVSE tax credit works. The DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) supports high-impact projects that reduce petroleum reliance by developing and deploying more energy efficient and sustainable transportation technologies, like EV charging. The VTO’s Funding Opportunity Announcements vary from year to year. You can see a full list of these federal funding programs at the DOT’s overview of federal funding programs for EV infrastructure. If you choose Blink Charging as an electrification partner, we will work with you to find all available funding opportunities for your EVSE installation.
State and Local Funding
There is also state-level funding available for EVSE installation. To view available state-level funding, we invite you to use Blink Charging’s Commercial Incentives tool. By inputting your zip code and the type of Blink charger you are inquiring about, you can see what funding opportunities are available for your location.
Negotiated Pricing with Vizient and Provista
To save time on researching products and opening a bidding process, many organizations use group purchasing organizations. Blink Charging is an awarded supplier for Level 2 and DC fast charging stations with Vizient and Provista. Are you a Vizient or Provista member? Ask your account manager how to get Blink’s negotiated rates for EV charging.
EVSE for Healthcare Facilities
The Blink Series 8 Level 2 charging station offers a credit card reader to support public charging.[/caption] With the length of time that most drivers park at healthcare facilities, Level 2 EV chargers would be the best choice as far as public charging. Depending on the vehicle, these chargers can fill a battery in four to eight hours. Healthcare workers can usually expect to receive a full charge during the length of a shift, and patients (and their visitors) can charge during medical appointments. And just as importantly: Level 2 chargers are significantly less costly to install than direct current fast chargers. For medical facilities electrifying a fleet, we recommend evaluating your current vehicle usage and consulting with a Blink fleet specialist. Depending on your vehicle usage, your fleet manager may prefer a mix of Level 2 and DC fast chargers. For a healthcare facility’s own fleet, a mixture of Level 2 chargers and at least one DCFC would work well. Vehicles that are sitting for long periods can use the Level 2 chargers while any vehicle that needs to be charged quickly could do so with the DCFC. This is especially pertinent for emergency vehicles like ambulances.
Conclusion
Healthcare facilities are committed to patient health, and that means doing what they can to contribute to a healthy environment. Installing EVSE for public use and transitioning fleet vehicles to electricity fits this goal and conveys their commitment to sustainability. Contact Blink Charging today to learn how to get started with EV charging at your healthcare facility.