EV charging firm Zest is working with Central Co-op to roll out EV charging facilities across a number of stores including on forecourts in the Midlands, Lancashire and East Anglia.
EV charging is now live at six Central Co-op sites including the Wirksworth location which has a forecourt. Other locations are Shelton Lock, Wildwood, Hambleton, Hethersett Local Centre and Thornton‑Cleveleys. Speeds range from 30 kW to 120 kW.
Twenty stores are included in the deal with a mix of new and existing shops, as well as selected petrol stations.
Under the multi-year agreement, Zest funds, deploys and operates the charging infrastructure. The Central Co-op deployment is part of Zest’s growing portfolio of partnerships with national retailers.
Andy Peake, Central Co-op chief operating officer, says: “At the heart of this announcement is Central Co-op’s commitment to creating a sustainable Society for all. As a member-owned Co-operative Society, we’re focused on longevity, prioritising the needs of our colleagues, members, and the communities we serve, as well as our planet.
“We have ambitious goals to build on our longstanding Carbon Neutral commitments and aim to be 100% green energy self-sufficient by 2030 and net zero by 2040. Working with key partners like Zest to facilitate better access to EV charging moves us further along on our journey to sustainability.”
Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, says: “Expanding EV charging into retail locations like Central Co-op stores ensures that sustainable transport is accessible where people live, work and shop. As a B Corp, we share the values of the Co-op movement, and we are making charging more convenient for customers while helping stores play a leading role in the transition to cleaner, more responsible mobility.”
