York plugs in to reduce air pollution

In addition to the 12 charging points already located across York, six fast charging points have been installed at five sites in city centre car parks including Union Terrace and Nunnery Lane as well as park-and-ride sites at Monks Cross, Grimston Bar and the Designer Outlet to allow drivers to re-charge their cars on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The network has been installed by York Council and is accessed with a payment system by phone or text.

Each charging point allows two electric vehicles to top up their batteries at the same time with up to 22kW power output. Four further charging points will be installed over the next few months.

York remains one of the region’s worst pollution blackspots, with traffic fumes remaining trapped in the narrow streets which snake across the heart of the ancient city. It is estimated between 94 and 163 people die prematurely in York each year because of poor air quality, prompting senior politicians to dub pollution as the city’s “invisible killer”.