Electric vehicle (EV) charging specialist Zest, has announced a new partnership with Ryedale District Council, North Yorkshire, to provide 10 rapid (DC) chargepoints to five of the district’s market towns.
The announcement comes shortly after North Yorkshire County Council became one of five Midlands local authorities to receive almost £1 million in government funding to install EV chargers in areas with limited off-street parking.
The dual port rapid chargers will be installed in car parks across the district including: WaterLane, Malton; Eastgate, Pickering; VivisLane, Pickering; Ropery, Pickering; Cleveland Way, Helmsley; and St Nicholas Street, Norton-on-Derwent.
Ryedale is a popular tourist attraction due to its attractive natural landscape and is visited by five million people each year. This partnership, continued Zest, will help maintain this vital part of the district’s economy by supporting the increased number of visitors that will require EV charging as EV uptake continues throughout the UK.
Recent research by the payment software company Paythru has indicated that poor chargepoint experience also deters 80% of UK drivers. In order to tackle this and the subsequent ‘range anxiety’ it can contribute to, UK Power Networks urged for a more investments into installing EV charge points nationwide.
“We’re delighted to make this commitment with Zest to deliver these facilities on our behalf. As the EV market continues to rise, the demand for charge points will also grow and it’s important that we are prepared for that” said Phillip Spurr, director for place and resources at Ryedale District Council.
“In our Council Plan, we promised to promote sustainable transport by installing extra electric vehicle charging points. We already have charge points in eight locations across Ryedale, with rapid charging at Water Lane car park, Malton, and our St. Nicholas Street car park, in Norton. We’re also proud to have two electric pool cars for our employees, enhancing our commitment to sustainable transport.”
The new EV chargepoints – the groundwork for which is set to begin in the new year – is in line with North Yorkshire County Council’s recently launched ‘EV charging Consultation Strategy’.