Zest

What Zest does

Zest (legal entity Zest Eco Limited) is a UK-based investor-operator of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Leeds. The company funds, installs, and operates EV charge points under long-term (typically 15-year) partnerships with local authorities, retailers, universities, and property owners, targeting the structural gap in on-street residential charging for the roughly 30-35% of UK households without off-street parking. As of late 2025 the network spans 1,300+ charging devices across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, anchored by flagship deployments such as Hackney Council (2,500 chargers), Thurrock Council (up to 4,046 chargepoints), Transport for London's red route network (100+ rapid bays), and destination sites including Starbucks drive-thrus, Aldi, Central Co-op, Home Bargains, and major shopping centres such as Metrocentre and Merry Hill.

The core product portfolio is organized into three interconnected service lines: on-street residential charging (lamp-post chargers, pavement-mounted units, dedicated bays), destination charging at retail and hospitality sites (fast and rapid units aligned to 30+ minute dwell times), and ultra-rapid roadside hubs (150-300kW, 10-16+ bays). Hardware is OCPP-compliant and operated through the Zest App for session initiation and payment, with contactless payment also supported via a Zest Infratech-developed retrofit module. Driver access is extended through integrations with Octopus Electroverse and Plugsurfing roaming platforms and Allstar fleet cards. The technology stack is standard charge point operator architecture rather than a proprietary platform, with the Zest Infratech sub-brand representing the only notable in-house technology product.

Revenue mechanics combine usage-based driver fees (per-kWh pricing, e.g., 65p/kWh at ultra-rapid hubs), recurring site-host ground rent, profit-share arrangements with site partners, and transaction fees from roaming and fleet integrations. Site hosts typically receive the infrastructure fully funded with no capital outlay, and Zest recovers investment through long-dated operating contracts. The business is backed by a £30 million raise in October 2021 led by Zouk Capital and supported by the government-sponsored Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, which provides long-term capital for deployment through 2027 and beyond. CEO Robin Heap leads a leadership team that includes Chief Development Officer Paul Ford, Finance Director Ben Oakes, People Director Becky Mee, and PR & Communications Manager Will Dale.

Name

Zest

Legal name

Zest Eco Limited

Website

https://zest.uk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Zest is a UK-based investor-operator of public EV charging infrastructure, founded in 2021, that funds and operates 1,300+ charge points across local authorities, retailers, universities, and roadside hubs, serving both drivers and public sector partners under long-term partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public EV Charging Infrastructure

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

EV Charging Network Management & Software Services (CPMS, Monitoring, Billing) (TLAKAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Managed EV Charging Software (Residential, Fleet, Workplace) (EUAFAMAA), EV Charger Operations, Maintenance & Field Service (O&M) (TLAKAMAF), EV Charging Settlement, Billing & Roaming (Payments, Tariffs, Clearing) (EUAFAMAI), EV Charging Payment & Reimbursement Programs (Public/Depot Charging) (TLABAMAK)

Keywords

• EV charging infrastructure
• Public charging networks
• On-street charging solutions
• Destination charging services
• Ultra-rapid charging hubs

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public EV Charging (Driver Fees): Zest generates revenue by operating public EV charging points and collecting fees from drivers. Pricing is typically per kWh (e.g., 65p per kWh at ultra-rapid hubs). Drivers pay via app, contactless, or roaming platforms.
2. Site Host Ground Rent: Zest offers ground rent arrangements to site hosts (councils, retailers) where Zest installs and operates chargers. Site hosts receive fixed monthly payments per bay.
3. Revenue Share with Site Partners: Profit share arrangements where site hosts receive a percentage of charging income in addition to or instead of fixed ground rent.
4. Fleet and Roaming Partnerships: Revenue from fleet card integrations (Allstar) and roaming platform access fees (Octopus Electroverse, Plugsurfing) where drivers from other networks access Zest chargers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Zest funds, installs, and operates a public EV charging network across the UK, serving local authorities with on-street residential charging, retailers and brands with destination charging, and motorists with ultra-rapid charging hubs. The company earns revenue through per-kWh driver charging fees, ground rent paid to site hosts, and revenue-share arrangements, with infrastructure deployed under long-term (typically 15-year) fully funded partnerships. A consumer-facing Zest app provides driver access alongside contactless payment and third-party roaming integrations.

Product overview

Zest is a UK-based EV charging operator offering a unified public charging network with three interconnected service lines: on-street residential charging (for households without off-street parking), destination charging (at retail, hospitality, and university locations), and ultra-rapid charging hubs (for roadside and urban high-throughput locations). The company also operates Zest Infratech as a technology product sub-line offering contactless payment upgrades for OCPP charge points. The Zest App serves as the driver-facing interface for locating stations, initiating sessions, and making payments. Zest funds, installs, and operates all infrastructure under long-term partnerships with local authorities and commercial brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zest Infratech: Building products for the EV mass-market, starting with a contactless upgrade for any OCPP charge point, including those without a screen.

Products and services

• Zest EV Charging Network Service
• Zest Infratech
• Zest App

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.85% network uptime achieved, exceeding UK Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 minimum of 99%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Signature InvestmentsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Partnership to deliver EV charging at Farmfoods retail locations. Four 75kW chargers at Farmfoods Bradford site.
• Richmond and Wandsworth CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Contract to deliver 200 new EV chargepoints (100 in each borough) for on-street residential charging at no cost to councils.
• Thurrock CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Long-term contract to deliver up to 4,046 public EV chargepoints across the borough. Supported by LEVI funding with Zest providing 98% of project investment over 15 years.
• Hounslow CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025Partnership to deliver over 100 rapid EV chargers across the borough as part of plan to install 2,000+ chargepoints. Fully funded by Zest.
• Transport for London (TfL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTfL awarded Zest contracts to deploy over 100 rapid charging bays on London's red route network, supporting the Mayor's Net Zero by 2030 commitment.
• Hackney CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partnership to deploy 2,500 EV chargers across seven square miles, making Hackney a national leader in on-street EV charging provision.
• StarbuckscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRapid charging facilities at Starbucks drive-thru locations across the UK. Chargers positioned to attract EV-driving customers and increase customer loyalty.
• Central Co-opcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFast and rapid chargers at Central Co-op convenience stores across multiple locations, with 20+ more stores planned.
• University of WarwickcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner£1.3m deployment of 142 EV charging spaces across campus car parks, saving over 15,000 tonnes of CO2.
• Octopus ElectroversecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration brings Zest's entire public charging network into Europe's largest consumer charging platform, enabling access for Octopus customers.
• AllstarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFleet card integration providing Zest's 1,300+ charging spaces to commercial fleet drivers through Allstar's network.
• Portsmouth City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deploy 300+ on-street EV chargers in residential areas, with first wave of 150+ now live.
• North East Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deploy public EV chargers across North Tyneside, boosting access to fast local charging in the North East.
• Newport City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deploy 144 charging points across 77 locations in Newport, Wales.
• AldicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUltra-rapid EV charging hubs at new Aldi store locations including Market Rasen, with 160kW chargers for shoppers and drivers.
• Home BargainscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFast and ultra-rapid charging bays rolling out at Home Bargains stores nationwide, including Sunderland location.
• Southend-on-Sea Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver 3,000 new EV charging spaces, boosting clean transport, air quality and community access.
• ZipcarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint electric car club pilot with Hackney Council, adding 15 EVs and 70 new fast chargers across the borough.
• Church Commissioners for EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeployed 12 charging spaces across three locations on The Hyde Park Estate owned by Church Commissioners.
• Harworth GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver ultra-rapid EV charging at Riverdale Park development in Doncaster.
• NHScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamed on NHS framework for EV infrastructure, enabling deployment at NHS sites.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gridserve: UK EV charging network with high-power Electric Hubs and forecourt-style charging facilities, plus solar-powered charging estate. Competes with Zest in ultra-rapid charging hubs and offers similar destination charging experience.
• Osprey Charging: UK rapid EV charging network operator building high-power hubs at strategic locations. Closely comparable to Zest's rapid and ultra-rapid hub business model and target customer segments.
• Pod Point: One of the UK's largest EV charging network operators and charge point manufacturers, offering home, workplace, and public charging solutions. Direct competitor to Zest in the UK public charging and local authority market.
• Char.gy: UK specialist in on-street residential EV charging, deploying lamp-post and pavement-mounted chargers for local authorities. Zest's closest direct competitor in the on-street residential charging segment Zest identifies as its primary market.
• InstaVolt: UK-leading rapid and ultra-rapid EV charging network operator focused on destination and roadside sites. Directly comparable to Zest's rapid and ultra-rapid charging hub business with similar pay-as-you-go contactless model.

Broad incumbents

• GeniePoint (Engie): UK-wide public EV charging network owned by global utility Engie. Competes with Zest across rapid and fast public charging and benefits from a parent with deep infrastructure and energy expertise.
• BP Pulse: BP's EV charging arm (formerly BP Chargemaster) and one of the UK's largest public charging networks. A larger incumbent with much deeper capital competing directly with Zest in destination and rapid charging.
• Shell Recharge: Shell's UK public EV charging network, leveraging Shell forecourt locations and partner sites. A well-capitalised incumbent that competes with Zest at destination and ultra-rapid sites, including retail partnerships.
• Tesla Supercharger: One of the largest and most established ultra-rapid charging networks globally, now partially opened to non-Tesla EVs. Sets competitive benchmarks on uptime, pricing, and site experience against which Zest's ultra-rapid hubs are compared.

Emerging players

• Trojan Energy: UK start-up focused on on-street residential EV charging with flat, pavement-integrated charge points. Closely overlaps with Zest's primary on-street residential segment and competing for similar council contracts.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zest