Richmond borough is to get a number of new rapid or ultra-rapid electric car charging points under a deal sealed by Transport for London.

Charger company Zest will provide and operate the charging bays, which can deliver a full charge in as little as 30 minutes.

The charging points will be on public land or strategic roads and are on top of separate schemes operated by Richmond Borough Council, which has a series of partnerships with private firms offering on-street chargers and others linked to street lights.

TfL said the locations of the Zest charges have been selected to allow more essential and high mileage road users - such as commercial vehicles - to make the switch to zero emission vehicles.

Some 39 units will be developed by the autumn of 2024 for boroughs across the south of London with another 60 under a new contract to be awarded later this year.

No information has been provided on the number and location of the Zest chargers in Richmond and Kingston.

However, they could include a charging hub – similar to a petrol station - where multiple cars can plug in and charge at the same time. In 2021, TfL opened the Glass Yard charging hub in Woolwich where eight vehicles can 'refill' simultaneously.

Charger company Zest will provide and operate the charging bays, which can deliver a full charge in as little as 30 minutes.

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TfL is looking at forming partnerships with councils, hospitals, the police, fire brigade and ambulance to find suitable sites on publicly owned land.

Some 103,000 plug-in electric cars and vans already registered in the capital – and London currently has 31 per cent of all EV charging infrastructure across the UK.

TfL said these public charging bays are the latest addition to London's growing electric vehicle charging network of close to 13,000 charging points.

London is on track to meet the target of 40,000-60,000 charging points by 2030.

Currently, around 880 of the capital's EV charging points are rapid or ultra-rapid charging points that deliver a full charge within 30 minutes - this includes 300 delivered by TfL. The number of rapid charging points across the capital also includes London's 26 rapid charging hubs that work much like petrol stations for electric cars.

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."

Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said: "These new electric vehicle charge points will make it quick, easy and more convenient for Londoners in south and southwest London to charge their vehicles, enabling more people to make the switch to greener cars with more confidence. 

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"Electric cars are just one of the ways we can help to clean up London's air and reduce harmful, toxic emissions, and for us to meet our ambitious net-zero targets."

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."

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. 

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles announced in late March that London has been allocated £35.7m funding for Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Capital funding.

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.

In recent months, two further hubs have been brought to London - MFG Collier Row and Euro Garages' hub at Heathrow North. These hubs house 14 rapid charging hubs between them bringing new charging options to EV drivers in the areas.