As part of our mission to bring healthcare to the most medically underserved regions of Central Appalachia, The Health Wagon is constantly exploring new ways to improve access, reduce costs, and protect the environment our patients call home. With mobile medical units traveling thousands of miles each year across the mountains of Southwest Virginia, fuel and transportation expenses represent a significant portion of our operations.

This month, we are partnering with Virginia Clean Cities to pilot an electric vehicle (EV) and see how this technology could fit into our future. For the next 30 days, our team will be test-driving a Chevy Bolt. This trial will help us understand practical considerations such as range, charging station access, and long-term sustainability benefits.

Why does this matter? For us, transportation isn’t just about getting from one place to another—it’s how we reach patients who otherwise would have no way to access care. By evaluating electric vehicles, we’re looking at opportunities to:

• Lower fuel and maintenance costs, freeing up more resources for direct patient care.

• Reduce emissions and support cleaner air for the communities we serve.

• Explore sustainable innovations that strengthen our ability to provide mobile healthcare in the decades ahead.

We’re excited to learn from this pilot, and grateful to Virginia Clean Cities for making it possible. For others interested in participating in a 30-day Chevy Bolt trial, you can reach out directly to Tarah Kesterson at Virginia Clean Cities: tkesterson@vacleancities.org.