Brent, Zest and Uber have partnered to provide 160 new public on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging bays to be installed across 80 locations in Brent.
On-street charge points are designed for EV drivers without a driveway to have access to charging near to their homes.
The project will be completed at zero cost to Brent Council as Zest and Uber are providing full funding. Zest will also provide the long-term operation of the service and maintenance of the charge points.
“Having more chargers is crucial for promoting the widespread adoption of EVs – solving range anxiety and encouraging more people to make the switch,” said Michael Lukasz Suchocki, a local Uber driver.
Local Uber driver, Michael Lukasz Suchocki
“I love driving my Tesla and I switched to reduce both my environmental impact and my fuel costs.
“Riders love the car too, and they often comment on its smooth and quiet performance – some even say they want to buy an EV themselves after riding in mine.”
Zest charge points can be found on the Zapmap app and desktop map. Thanks to its Live Data partnership, Zapmap users can see the live status and availability of Zest charge points at any time.
“Mass adoption of electric vehicles, with all the climate and air quality benefits they bring, will only happen when everyone has access to a convenient and reliable charging service,” said Robin Heap, CEO of Zest.
“By investing in Brent, already an early leader in providing public charging facilities, we can improve charge point availability for residents across the borough.”
Recently it was announced that Uber is also supporting the funding of the installation of 170 Believ EV chargers across the Redbridge borough.
“We are delighted to work with Brent Council on this vital project to boost EV infrastructure,” said Andrew Brem, General Manager of Uber UK.
“Getting the first chargers in the ground is a huge milestone with drivers often telling me that being able to access reliable charging near their homes is critical to their decision to switch to an EV.”
