Thurrock awards Zest 15 year contract for 4,046 public EV charging points

Zest will install 4,046 public EV charging points across Thurrock, Essex, over 15 years under a council contract supported by the government's local electric vehicle infrastructure fund. Around 98% of the scheme will be funded by the charge point operator, with a mix of lamppost chargers, fast AC and rapid DC units prioritised for on street parking and underserved areas. The programme will also transfer 35 existing charging points onto the Zest network.

Why it matters: The contract demonstrates how local authority procurement backed by LEVI funding can deliver large scale residential charging infrastructure with minimal public capital outlay. The 15 year term and focus on lamppost and on street solutions offers a replicable model for CPOs targeting similar urban rollouts.