Zest to install charging infrastructure for TfL
Transport for London (TfL) has hired Zest to install 39 new HPC bays across 24 locations in south and southwest London by the end of 2024, including outer London boroughs such as Sutton and Bromley.
Currently, the plan is for more than 60 charging points to be installed across other parts of London after a new contract is awarded this autumn. The tender for the charging infrastructure order was released last November.
London has around 103,000 plug-in electric cars and vans already registered, which are being charged by close to 13,000 charge points. This puts London as having 31 per cent of all EV charging infrastructure across the UK. This grew by 180 per cent since 2019, due to the Mayor’s investment programme. By 2030, London plans to meet the target of 40,000-60,000 charging points, which the initiators say is currently on track.
Interestingly enough, the rollout will not cost TfL anything, as its partner Zest is set to fund the capital and operational costs of the programme. Under the agreement, Zest will provide and operate the charge points for 15 years, during which TfL will receive a share of charging revenues and rent for the use of its land. Zest is capable of affording this as it is backed by the government-sponsored Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF), the £420m public-private fund whose mission is to be the catalyst for large-scale EV infrastructure projects like this.
“The UK needs an injection of serious infrastructure to meet its net zero goals, and it is farsighted public sector organisations who are taking the lead,” said Zest CEO Robin Heap. David Rowe, TfL’s Director of Investment Delivery Planning added: “These 39 bays are the start of our new programme to boost the number of rapid charging points in the capital by making public land available to private sector providers to support those making the switch to zero-emission vehicles.”
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