(Image: NEAS)
North East ambulance crews are closer to using more electric vehicles after a rapid charger was installed at a key hospital site.
The charger at University Hospital of North Tees supports the North East Ambulance Service’s electric vehicle project and follows installations at ambulance stations and NHS sites across the region.
Martin Gibson, environmental sustainability manager at NEAS, said: "This is another important step forward for our EV project and shows what can be achieved when NHS organisations work together.
"As we continue to explore the future use of electric ambulance vehicles, having the right charging infrastructure in place is essential.
North East Ambulance Service installs a dual rapid EV charger at University Hospital of North Tees (Image: NEAS)
"We're grateful to our NHS partners for helping us expand charging facilities across the region and support the NHS ambition of reaching net zero."
NEAS runs more than 600 vehicles from 63 ambulance stations and three operations centres.
In 2025/26, the service attended 442,168 incidents and took 298,307 patients to hospital.
Chris Chalmers, head of operations at NEAS, said: "Reliable charging facilities are a vital part of preparing for the next generation of ambulance vehicles.
"The new charger at North Tees strengthens our regional charging network and helps ensure we're ready to support future ambulance services as our EV project develops."
The dual rapid charger will let ambulances recharge quickly while working in Teesside.
It will also help the NHS reach its net-zero target and make the health service more sustainable.
Steve Taylor, director of estates for University Hospital Tees, said: "We have always enjoyed an excellent working relationship with NEAS, and it has been fantastic to build on that partnership through a project that helps reduce our shared carbon footprint.
"The new EV charger will provide a reliable, high-speed charging solution for their growing fleet of electric ambulances, supporting its transition to greener transport and helping ensure these vehicles remain operational for years to come."
More information about NEAS’s charging infrastructure programme is available at https://www.neas.nhs.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/electric-vehicle-charging-funding-secured-neas-ambulance-stations.