An Investigation into the Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Health Service Executive Properties in Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon to Meet Sustainability Drivers.

Abstract

The driver for this research is the health service executive commitment to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. As Ireland’s largest public body, the Health Service Executive is focussed on decarbonising its fleet, including emergency and community service vehicles, to facilitate the transition to best practice sustainable transport requirements. This transition necessitates upgrading existing infrastructure to support the installation of electric vehicle charging in healthcare settings. This research investigates the electric vehicle charging point installation requirements for existing Health Service Executive West and North West properties to meet the short to medium term requirements as case study research. Currently absent is a best practice evaluation auditing tool to expedite this in existing buildings and estates and therefore this formed a central to the aim and objectives of this research. Literature insights from peer reviewed journal articles on electric vehicles chargers, infrastructure, and installation in the context of sustainability. Insights reveal that such installations could include circular economy requirements. Empirical data collection was conducted using two electronic questionnaire surveys to staff and management, semi-structured interviews, a review of five case studies, and by conducting three live case studies in North West Health Service Executive estates. Data analysis was triangulated when combined with mixed-mode analysis. Findings revealed that in the Health Service Executive West and North West estates, electric vehicle charging points were viable in terms of staff requirements and commuting distance. However, a lack of existing infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging points was a barrier for the procurement of electric vehicles by staff and for the fleet requirements. An evaluation auditing tool has been developed for use by regional and national estates offices in line with international best practice resulting from this research. One key contribution to the literature is to demonstrate a case study retrofit of electric vehicle charging points in healthcare settings.