Thurrock Council has awarded Zest a long-term contract to deliver up to 4,046 public electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the borough.
Supported by the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, the partnership unlocks significant private investment from Zest, who will fund around 98% of the project. The programme will deliver a borough-wide charging network designed to make switching to EV convenient for residents across Thurrock, particularly households without access to off-street parking.
The programme will deploy a mix of Standard-Plus AC and Rapid DC lamp-post chargers, ensuring residents can access reliable charging close to where they live, work and visit. Locations will be prioritised to support on-street households and areas currently underserved by public charging.
Situated within the Thames Gateway growth corridor, Thurrock is a key economic engine for the wider London region and home to major logistics and industrial assets including the Port of Tilbury and London Gateway, one of the UK’s largest deep-sea container ports. Expanding the borough’s EV charging network, part of the council’s ambitious transport strategy, will support both local communities and the wider regional economy as electric vehicle adoption accelerates.
Under the agreement, Zest will provide and operate the network over a 15-year period, creating a long-term, resilient infrastructure platform capable of expanding as demand grows.
Around 35 existing EV charger installed through the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles’ On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) will also be transferred onto the Zest network, improving reliability and user experience for drivers already using the sites.
New sites will be selected to maximise accessibility and convenience for residents, and all of Zest's chargers can be found by using the Zapmap app, where 24/7 live status and availability information is shared .
Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, said:
“Thurrock is taking a proactive approach to building the resilient infrastructure needed for the transition to electric vehicles. By combining targeted public funding with long-term private investment, this partnership will deliver a reliable and equitable charging network that supports communities across the borough.
“Zest now works with more than 30 public sector partners across the UK, and we are proud to support Thurrock in delivering infrastructure that will serve residents for years to come.”
