Zest takes 15-year Hertfordshire contract for 1,000 EV chargepoints

Hertfordshire County Council has appointed Zest to install more than 1,000 public EV chargepoints across North Hertfordshire, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield.

The new on-street charging network will be supported by £1.8 million from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, alongside private investment from Zest.

Under the 15-year agreement, Zest will fund, install, operate and maintain the chargepoints, meaning Hertfordshire County Council will not need to meet the capital or ongoing maintenance costs of the network.

The first installations are expected to begin later in 2026, with residential areas that currently have limited access to public charging expected to be prioritised. In particular, the rollout will target households without driveways or other forms of off-street parking, which are unable to benefit from cheaper and more convenient domestic charging.

Zest is the third operator named as part of Hertfordshire’s area-based procurement, and will be responsible for North Hertfordshire, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield. Believ is responsible for Dacorum, Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford, while Urban Fox is covering Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire and Stevenage. 

Taken together Hertfordshire County Council has received just over £6 million in total LEVI capital funding, although it’s far from the only council leveraging the funding available. 

West Northamptonshire Council recently appointed char.gy to deliver more than 3,000 on-street charging sockets, supported by £2.85 million of LEVI funding. Meanwhile, Hampshire County Council selected Believ to install 17,180 chargers through a programme backed by £6.6 million of Government funding and up to £90 million of private investment.

Likewise, EZO has also secured a £176 million, 15-year contract covering Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Warwickshire, although that programme will initially deliver a smaller network of 250 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers.

The Hertfordshire deal follows a similar model, using Government funding to attract private investment while transferring responsibility for operating and maintaining the network to the chargepoint provider. However, the success of the programme will ultimately depend on whether the chargers are installed in the areas where residents genuinely need them, as well as whether the tariffs remain competitive with home charging.

Mark Doran, Executive Director of Growth and Environment at Hertfordshire County Council, said, “Expanding access to on-street EV charging is a key step in supporting residents to make the switch to electric vehicles. We know that lack of access to home charging can be a barrier for many people, particularly those without driveways.

“This programme will help address that by providing reliable, convenient charging options closer to where people live. It also supports our commitment to growing a greener Hertfordshire by reducing emissions, enabling more sustainable journeys across the county, and helping residents transition away from reliance on petrol and diesel at a time when fuel prices and wider cost-of-living pressures continue to impact household budgets.”

Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, added, “Forward-thinking councils like Hertfordshire County Council are helping to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles. By combining focused public funding with significant private investment, this partnership will deliver a dependable charging network for communities across the county.”

Potential locations will be assessed before installations begin, with residents expected to be consulted on proposed sites. Hertfordshire County Council says it will consider existing gaps in charging provision, expected demand, access to off-street parking, local grid capacity and whether another public chargepoint is already available within walking distance.