Zest to install over 1,000 public EV charge points in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire County Council has selected Zest to deploy more than 1,000 public EV charge points across three districts. Backed by £1.8 million from the UK's LEVI Fund and private investment, the 15-year project targets residents without access to off-street charging. Installation of the first charge points is scheduled to begin later this year. The council has divided the county into several rollout areas, with Zest acting as one of three selected charge point operators. Under the agreement, the company will fund, install, operate and maintain the charging network over the next 15 years. According to the partners, this will not incur any costs for the council or local residents. The new infrastructure will focus on expanding access to public charging for households without off-street parking. Zest plans to deploy a mix of on-street charging solutions, with locations prioritised in residential areas and communities that have so far had limited access to public charging infrastructure. The partners say the network is designed to scale with growing EV adoption over the coming years. “Expanding access to on-street EV charging is a key step in supporting residents to make the switch to electric vehicles. We know that lack of access to home charging can be a barrier for many people, particularly those without driveways,” said Mark Doran, Executive Director of Growth and Environment at Hertfordshire County Council. “This programme will help address that by providing reliable, convenient charging options closer to where people live.” Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, described the partnership as an example of how public and private investment can accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure. He added that Zest already works with more than 30 public sector organisations across the UK and said the company looks forward to supporting Hertfordshire in expanding charging infrastructure “that will benefit residents for many years to come, ensuring that access to EV charging is not determined by where people live or whether they have a driveway.” zest.uk.com