Thurrock Council has signed a new long-term contract with Zest to deliver up to 4,046 public EV charge points across the borough.
Under the agreement, Zest will provide and operate the network over a 15-year period, creating a long-term, resilient infrastructure platform capable of expanding as demand grows.
About 35 existing charge points installed through the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles’ On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) will also be transferred onto the Zest network, improving reliability and user experience for drivers already using the sites.
Supported by the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, the partnership unlocks significant private investment from Zest, who will fund about 98% of the project.
The programme will deliver a network designed to make switching to EV convenient, particularly households without access to off-street parking.
This will deploy a mix of lamp-post chargers, along with fast AC and rapid DC charging points.
New sites will be selected to maximise accessibility and convenience for residents.
Also, locations will be prioritised to support on-street households and areas currently underserved by public charging.
Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, said, “Thurrock is taking a proactive approach to building the resilient infrastructure needed for the transition to electric vehicles.
“By combining targeted public funding with long-term private investment, this partnership will deliver a reliable and equitable charging network that supports communities across the borough.
“Zest now works with more than 30 public sector partners across the UK, and we are proud to support Thurrock in delivering infrastructure that will serve residents for years to come.”
