Transport for London (TfL) has signed the first deal in its plans to further expand the capital’s charging infrastructure.

Zest will provide and operate 39 rapid or ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging bays on public land on strategic roads to give drivers more places to recharge

As part of the EV Infrastructure Delivery Programme, it’s awarded Zest a contract to roll out 39 new charging bays across 24 locations in south and south west London by the end of 2024 including outer London boroughs such as Sutton and Bromley.

The charging infrastructure will be placed in parking bays near key routes used for essential road journeys typically made by high-mileage, commercial users – including taxis and freight.

The bays will be followed by more than 60 charging points across other parts of London to after a new contract is awarded this autumn, bringing public land to the private market to grow London’s charging infrastructure.

They follow a pledge by London Mayor Sadiq Khan 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.

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. We’re glad to be working with Zest UK to expand the number of EV charging points across the capital, adding to the city’s extensive network.

“As we work towards the Mayor’s commitment to achieving Net Zero carbon by 2030, we hope the easier access to rapid and ultra-rapid charging points will encourage those who need to drive in the capital to consider the greenest vehicles for their next car or van which will have the most significant impact in cleaning up London’s toxic air and tackle climate change.”

The project with Zest will be completed at no cost to TfL. Zest will fund the capital and operational costs of the programme, providing and operating the charge points for 15 years. The company 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 such as this.

Robin Heap, Zest CEO, said: “The UK needs an injection of serious infrastructure to meet its net zero goals, and it is farsighted public sector organisations who are taking the lead. Placing rapid and ultra-rapid charging points directly onto London’s high-volume arterial roads will make it easier for drivers to choose electric and improve the air quality for local communities. We’re looking forward to providing and operating these charge points in partnership with Transport for London.”

Thanks to its c.13,000 charge points, London already has 31% of all EV charging infrastructure across the UK, more than any other UK region. As of February 2023, it also has the most public rapid charge points of any European city. Around 880 of the thousands of EV charging points located across the capital are rapid or ultra-rapid charging points – this includes 300 delivered by TfL and includes 26 rapid charging hubs.

However, as part of its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure strategy, TfL’s modelling predicts that if current demand continues, the city will need at least 1,600 rapid charge points by 2025 and up to 3,900 by 2030.

TfL already has a hub in south London, opened in 2021 at the Glass Yard site in Woolwich, and part of plans to have a rapid charging hub in every one of the capital’s five sub-regions, north, south, east, west and central. The first EV hub was built in east London at Stratford International and construction of a hub at Baynard House in the City of London was completed last year, bringing six rapid charging points to central London.