From Non-Functional to Future-Ready EV Charging: Case Study from Women’s College Hospital

Electric vehicle (EV) charging isn’t new at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) in downtown Toronto. Years ago, the hospital took a proactive step by installing 16 EV chargers in its underground parking garage for staff and visitors. Over time, those charging stations began to break down because of outdated EV technology and lack of smart features, eventually leading to them being unused.

This case study offers an example of how public facilities can turn broken, non-functional EV charging stations into a reliable and cost-effective EV charging system on a tight deadline, with minimal disruption, and with long-term functionality in mind.

Situation: EV chargers that no longer served their purpose

WCH had originally installed 16 EV chargers in its underground parking garage. But by 2024, none of the charging stations were operational and were slowly breaking down.

The Women’s College Hospital faced multiple issues:

• Hardware failures
• No billing capabilities
• A negative user experience that discouraged staff and visitors from using the chargers

Many public institutions, condo buildings and commercial properties are realizing that older charging systems often fall short of today’s expectations due to lack of software features and efficient infrastructure design.

WCH needed more than new EV charging equipment, they needed a partner who could:

1. Remove and replace 16 non-functional EV chargers
2. Increase electrical capacity by integrating power management in the system to optimize electrical capacity enabling more EVs to charge Add more capacity to meet growing EV demand
3. Upgrade the garage’s Wi-Fi connectivity and electrical infrastructure
   Integrate billing, access control, and user notifications into the software
4. Execute all of it with minimal disruption to a 24/7 medical facility
5. Complete the entire project in less than one week to receive federal funding
   

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Deadline: Upgrade fast to take advantage of a funding opportunity

WCH had an opportunity to apply for financial support through NRCan’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), a federal initiative that reimburses up to 50% of eligible project costs.

However, the deadline for this federal rebate program was quickly approaching. With very little time left in the program window, WCH needed a partner who could deliver quickly and still meet program requirements to receive federal funding. Missing the deadline would have meant losing out on significant financial support. 

Read more:
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Solution: A turnkey, hospital-ready EV charging system 

Hospitals have unique operational needs. Hospital parking facilities are in constant use, staff work variable shifts, visitors arrive at all hours, and IT security requirements are strict. Any infrastructure upgrades or equipment installation must be delivered with minimal risk, minimal disruption, and maximize reliability. visitors.

At WCH, the solution wasn’t just about replacing broken hardware, it required a fully managed, end-to-end approach. This is where metroEV’s turnkey EV charging solution came into play. Every element of the system had to be upgraded, integrated, and aligned with the hospital’s workflow.

Project scope included:

1. Charger replacement and expansion
   - Fast and efficient removal of 16 EV chargers
   - Installation of 20 new Level 2 charging stations (16 replacements + 4 additional units)
2. Infrastructure upgrades
   - Electrical and EV charger Wi-Fi upgrades to support a smart charging network in an underground parking lot
3. EV charging software integration
   - Added automated billing, real-time usage reporting, and automated notifications. Doctors and nurses now receive alerts when charging is complete, with a built-in grace period that respects the realities of shift work.
4. User experience enhancements
   - Installed wall signage and parking decals to guide first-time users and reduce confusion.
5. Security practices
   - Implemented strong IT and data privacy protections to meet the standards expected in a healthcare environment.

Everything from hardware removal, installation, software setup, and networking upgrades, to signage and user training, was handled in a single, coordinated effort by the metroEV team. The hospital didn’t need to manage multiple vendors or juggle timelines, every step was streamlined into one turnkey package.

Learn more:
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Timeline: A compressed, critical mission

metroEV had just five business days to remove the chargers, replace them with new networked charging stations, complete electrical and Wi-Fi upgrades, and ensure the hospital met the government funding deadline. 

Project timeline:

• March 22, 2024 (Friday): Signed Master Services Agreement (MSA)
• March 26 (Tuesday): Electrical upgrades, Wi-Fi improvements, and charger installation complete
• March 29 (Friday): All wall and parking decals installed
• March 31 (Sunday): NRCan ZEVIP funding deadline successfully met

In less than a week, Women’s College Hospital went from a broken, outdated EV charging setup to a fully modern, revenue-generating system designed around the needs of a hospital.

Outcome: A revenue-generating, future-ready charging system

This wasn’t just an equipment upgrade, it was a transformation of a failed charging system into a functional charging system that supports hospital traffic workflow.

Key project highlights:

• Revenue Generation- Enabled billing and access control for staff and visitors, creating a new revenue stream for the hospital.
• Operational Support- Automatic notifications alert medical staff when charging is complete, including a grace period before needing to move their vehicle, designed to fit the realities of shift work.
• Efficiency- Entire project from signed contract to final decal, completed in just 5 days.
• Funding Secured- metroEV ensured the hospital met all criteria to receive 50% cost reimbursement through NRCan’s ZEVIP program.

Learn more:
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Lessons: What other facilities can take from this

1. Don’t wait to fix infrastructure. Non-functional chargers cost more than maintenance and prevent future funding opportunities.
2. Federal and provincial funding windows are short. With the right EV charger provider and installer, it’s possible to meet even the tightest timelines.
3. Customization matters. A hospital’s EV charging needs aren’t the same as a condo or a commercial parking lot. Tailored solutions and smart software make all the difference.
   
4. Great service is proactive, not reactive. The most successful projects are built on collaboration, communication, and flexibility, especially in complex environments like healthcare.

Thinking about upgrading your EV charging infrastructure?

metroEV can help you upgrade outdated EV charging infrastructure by integrating a modern, reliable, and scalable system into your existing setup. 

Our turnkey EV charging solutions for parking facilities are built to fit seamlessly into existing facilities, giving you a smarter, more future-ready charging network. We’ll help guide you through funding opportunities, infrastructure upgrades, and provide long-term support that aligns with your facility’s EV charging needs.

Contact metroEV today to explore how we can transform your EV charging infrastructure.

Watch this video to see the completed EV charging installation for Women's College Hospital.

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