Zest is to more than triple the amount of available on-street charge points in Portsmouth, by installing and managing up to 320 new chargers in residential areas during 2025.
Following a rigorous procurement process earlier this year Portsmouth City Council appointed Zest to evaluate existing chargepoints for retention and look at new strategic locations for chargers based on community requests.
The expansion will give more people access to convenient charging, especially those without driveways or other off-street parking.
As contracts come to an end with existing operators, current plans allow for Zest to take on the existing charge point network that has been in place since 2018.
The project is being supported by a grant from the government’s On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) with matched funding from Zest, to provide and operate the charge points over the next 15 years.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “We are committed to providing sustainable transport options for everyone in Portsmouth, and working with Zest to support residents choosing to transition from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles is a key part of that.
“Installing up to 320 new charge points will make it easier for people to make the switch to cleaner vehicles and benefit from convenient charging options close to home.”
Robin Heap, CEO at Zest, said, “We’re excited to partner with Portsmouth City Council, a forward-thinking local authority committed to sustainable transport and improving air quality.
“To create real change, we need an abundance of convenient charging options that fit seamlessly into people’s lives, and this investment will make the switch to electric vehicles a possibility for drivers across the city.”
