Zest provides EV charging facilities for two hotels in the Hebrides

Zest has introduced new EV charge points at hotels in two Scottish islands. Visitors to the Isle of Skye, and to South Uist are set to benefit from the new facilities during their stay. The charge points mean hotel guests at the Uig Hotel on the Isle of Skye and to Brae Lea on South Uist, will be able to park up, plug in and charge when they visit.

Each location offers two charging ports set in designated parking spaces. The chargers run on 100% renewable energy and at speeds that match the typical length of stay. Charging sessions and payments are quickly processed through the Zest app with access to full customer support.   

Based in Leeds, Zest is a fast-growing company investing in public charge points for public and private landowners across the UK, backed by the government’s Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF). This dedicated fund was established by the UK Government in 2019 to help develop public charging infrastructure points for electric vehicles throughout the UK. 

The Proprietor, Billy Harley, at The Uig Hotel on Skye welcomed the move: “This is a significant addition to what we already offer here at our historic hotel, which dates back to 1831,” Billy explained. “Given that we are just five minutes from the Ferry Port we’re confident that we will start to see more electric vehicle owners visiting us here on the Isle of Skye.”  

The hotel’s surrounding scenery has also been the backdrop for many films including Stardust, Macbeth, Prometheus and most recently Spielberg’s BFG.

Brae Lea is a family run hotel on the Isle of South Uist and is close to the Lochboisdale with stunning loch and hillside views.  

Dr Rupert Marshall, Owner of Brae Lea said: “Finding ways to lower our carbon footprint is important to us here on Uist. We’re pleased to benefit from Zest’s investment in a way that adds so much value to an island rich in natural beauty. I believe this installation makes visiting us even more attractive to our guests.”

Scottish Ministers have set ambitious climate targets, with a statutory requirement to achieve a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and Net Zero by 2045. One in seven cars sold in Scotland is now fully electric. EV sales have increased by 8% in the last 12 months alone and now account for 14% of the overall market.

“We’re delighted to introduce EV charging to such spectacular settings,” said Zest CEO, Robin Heap. “Our Hebridean installations mirror the Scottish government’s commitment to serving some of the most remote locations in the UK. We believe that by taking action today to improve access to charging, we can democratise EV adoption and help create a sustainable zero carbon future for everyone.”

Work to install the units was carried out by specialist electrical installers, BMM Energy Solutions from Glasgow.