Portsmouth installs 300 new EV charge points in Zest partnership

^{Image credit: Portsmouth County Council.}

More than 300 new electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints are due to be installed across Portsmouth, with Zest appointed to operate the city's growing EV charging network.

The partnership will see Zest more than triple the amount of on-street chargepoints in the city, by installing and managing up to 320 new on-street chargepoints in residential areas during 2025.

This expansion will give more people access to convenient charging, especially those without driveways or other off-street parking.

Cllr Peter Candlish, cabinet member for transport, said: “We are committed to providing sustainable transport options for everyone in Portsmouth, and working with Zest to support residents choosing to transition from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles is a key part of that. Installing up to 320 new chargepoints will make it easier for people to make the switch to cleaner vehicles and benefit from convenient charging options close to home.”

As contracts come to an end with existing operators, current plans allow for Zest to take on some or all of the existing chargepoint network that has been in place since 2018.

Existing charge points will be evaluated by Zest to identify which ones can be retained, and the council will work with them on this as a priority.

The council continues to be at the forefront of technological innovations like this, with new chargepoints strategically located based on community requests, ensuring they’re in the most effective locations for residents across the city.

The project is being supported by a grant from the government’s On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) with matched funding from Zest, a certified B Corp, meaning that they meet high standards of social and environmental performance, to provide and operate the chargepoints over the next 15 years.

Robin Heap, CEO at Zest, said: “We’re excited to partner with Portsmouth City Council, a forward-thinking local authority committed to sustainable transport and improving air quality. To create real change, we need an abundance of convenient charging options that fit seamlessly into people’s lives, and this investment will make the switch to electric vehicles a possibility for drivers across the city.”