Yorkshire-based charge point operator Zest has passed a major milestone by deploying more than 3,000 public electric vehicle charging points across the UK.

The achievement comes just over four years after the company launched in 2021, reflecting the rapid growth of electric mobility across towns, cities and communities nationwide.

Zest’s network focuses on on-street chargers, fast AC charging and rapid DC charging to ensure drivers can charge conveniently whether or not they have access to a driveway.

Unlike some industry figures that count multiple connectors per parking space, Zest confirms its 3,000 milestone represents 3,000 individual, usable charging spaces.

Today, Zest works with more than 30 public sector organisations, alongside retailers, hospitality brands, property owners and destination partners, to expand access to public charging across the UK. As the first B Corp-certified charge point operator, the company has combined commercial investment with a long-term commitment to supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions.

The milestone marks another step in a much larger programme of investment. Zest has already secured contracts for tens of thousands of additional charging points, demonstrating the scale of demand from local authorities, landowners and private sector partners across the country.

“Reaching 3,000 charging points is an important milestone, but what makes me most proud is where those charge points are located,” said Robin Heap, CEO and founder of Zest. “We have focused on bringing charging into communities, helping people who don’t have a driveway access the benefits of electric driving.

“Working with local authorities and private sector partners, we are creating charging infrastructure that becomes part of everyday life.”

Heap noted that the transition to electric vehicles has moved beyond the early adopter phase and is becoming the mainstream choice for millions of people.

“The momentum behind electrification is now unstoppable. The question is no longer whether the transition will happen, but how quickly we can deliver the infrastructure needed to support it.

Zest’s leadership also highlighted financial policy hurdles slowing down the wider industry.

“If we want to accelerate deployment further, one of the biggest barriers we need to address is the standing charge regime applied to public charging. Today, a significant proportion of what drivers pay goes towards fixed electricity network charges rather than the energy itself. Reforming that anomaly would lower costs for drivers, improve investment returns and help unlock even faster deployment of charging infrastructure across the UK,” said Heap.

With multiple projects currently under construction, Zest expects its nationwide deployment to continue accelerating through the second half of the decade.