Zest and North Yorkshire Council open rapid EV charge points across Ryedale

Zest, one of the UK’s fastest growing EV charging infrastructure networks, has worked with North Yorkshire Council to open the first in a series of rapid charging facilities in Helmsley, Malton, and Pickering. The initial deployment provides six dual-socket charge points across the three market towns

• Cleveland Way Car Park in Helmsley
• Water Lane Car Park in Malton
• Eastgate Car Park in Pickering

The next phase of the project will add further charging facilities in Pickering. The charge points are provided, operated, and maintained over the long term by Zest, meaning there are no costs for the council.

Millions of people visit North Yorkshire every year. Tourism is a £1.5 billion industry, and an increasing number of visitors are driving electric. Rapid chargers can top-up vehicles in around half an hour, enabling drivers to quickly go about their day.

Councillor Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for Highways and Transportation said: “We’re delighted to partner with Zest to provide rapid charge points in Helmsley, Malton, and Pickering. Our strategy is to support North Yorkshire residents and businesses, and ensure we remain a destination of choice for visitors with electric vehicles. As the EV market continues to grow, we are determined to keep pace with the demand for a high-quality charging experience.”

Robin Heap, Zest CEO, said: “These high-quality micro hubs inject vitality to rural towns, making it easier to switch to EV, attracting new visitors and encouraging business to invest. North Yorkshire Council is backing its ambitious strategy with bold action, and we are proud they chose to work with Zest.”

Based in Leeds, Zest provides EV charging infrastructure to local authorities and commercial real estate across the UK. Its projects are backed by the government-sponsored £420 million Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF). It means Zest can fully fund larger projects that anticipate future demand, acting quickly to bring this essential infrastructure into service.

Zest engaged Yorkshire-based expert contractors, Jones Electric, and Utility Line, to carry out the installation.

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