Portsmouth City Council has announced more than 300 new chargepoints are due to be installed across the city, with Zest appointed to operate the city’s growing electric vehicle (EV) charging network.
The partnership will see Zest more than triple the amount of available on-street chargepoints, by installing and managing up to 320 new chargers in residential areas during 2025.
This expansion gives 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 also allow for Zest to take on the existing chargepoint network that has been in place since 2018.
Zest will work closely with the council to evaluate existing chargepoints for retention.
READ MORE: Portsmouth discusses EVI strategy to develop EV charging infrastructure
The project is being supported by a grant from the government’s On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) with matched funding from Zest, a certified B Corp.
The matched funding meaning Zest must adhere to high standards of social and environmental performance if it is to provide and operate the chargepoints over the next 15 years.
CEO at Zest Robin Heap 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.”
Achievements and innovations in EV charging infrastructure will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table!
