TfL provides chargers along strategic routes

Zest to operate in car parks in south and south-west London

Transport for London (TfL) has awarded Zest a contract to roll out new electric vehicle (EV) charging bays near key routes used for essential road journeys typically made by high mileage, commercial users – including taxis and freight.

The Zest contract is part of TfL’s EV Infrastructure Delivery Programme, which aims to deliver on the Mayor of London’s pledge to unlock land owned by TfL and other members of the Greater London Authority, including the London Fire Brigade, the London Ambulance Service, and the Metropolitan Police, as well partners in the NHS, to increase the density of the rapid charging network across the city.

The 39 new bays will be installed at 24 locations spread across south and south-west London in Bromley, Greenwich, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth

David Rowe, TfL’s director of investment delivery planning, said: “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. More rapid charging points are key to encouraging people and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles, giving drivers confidence that they have a place to power up in a short period of time.”

The roll-out will be completed at no cost to TfL, with its partner

Zest set to fund the capital and operational costs of the programme. Zest will provide and operate the chargepoints for 15 years, with no financial costs or operational overheads for TfL.

Under the terms of the contract, TfL will receive a share of charging revenues and a ground rent for the use of its land.

Zest 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. Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said: