Fastned to rapidly expand London’s public EV charging network

Fastned has formed a joint venture with Places for London, Transport for London’s property company, to jointly invest in ultra-rapid charging hubs at an initial five sites across London.
 
The first five sites are located along busy routes at Hanger Lane, Canning Town, Hatton Cross, Tottenham Hale and Hillingdon Circus. Together, these sites will add over 70 ultra-rapid charging bays (providing up to 400kW) to London’s EV charging network, with each hub serving hundreds of drivers per day. This will offer customers up to 300 miles of range in as little as 20 minutes, using 100% certified renewable energy.
 
The Fastned/Places for London joint venture intends to add a further 20 sites by 2030, with the potential to increase this to up to 65 hubs over the partnership's lifetime as market demand and opportunities arise.
 
This public-private partnership secures investment for London to support the growth of sustainable transport for all drivers, including the essential traffic that supports the city. Fastned plans to commit at least £30m of investment as part of this joint venture, including its share of £16m in joint funding planned for the first five sites. This will deliver industry-leading facilities that prioritise safety, inclusivity and accessibility for all.
 
The number of electric vehicles on the road in London is projected to rise to between 1m to 1.4m by 2030, making up 34% to 49% of London’s car and van fleet. Up to 4,000 rapid chargers are expected to be needed to meet this demand. London leads the way in the uptake of EV vehicles in the UK, with around 193,000 plug-in electric cars and vans already registered in the capital. The city has 21,600 charge points to date, which is around a third of all EV charging infrastructure across the UK and more than any other UK region. The Fastned/Places for London joint venture will enable a faster expansion of charging hubs that meet the growing needs of drivers making the switch to EVs and the Mayor’s mission for a greener London.
 
Each of the joint venture’s charging hubs will be an important asset for the local community. A proportion of the revenue from each of the first five charging hubs will go towards community projects which will benefit local residents. There are plans for many of the hubs to have shops, along with landscaped seating and activity areas, in addition to plans for toilets at many of the hubs. Importantly, each charging hub will be accessible to all, with wheelchair-accessible bays, layouts and considerations for drivers with different needs. Further features and benefits will include retail space at larger sites – which will give customers a comfortable place to wait while they charge their vehicles – CCTV and 24/7 customer support via app or phone.
 
The joint venture will seek to continue to help push the industry forward through offering work experience placements, apprenticeships and employment, as well as broader economic opportunities – including helping small to medium enterprises entering the market – thereby upskilling more people to support London’s sustainable transition to electric vehicles.

“Londoners deserve a top-notch EV charging network for all those daily trips and longer journeys. That’s why we’re excited and proud to be bringing more ultra-rapid charging to key locations across the city – all helping to ramp up London’s transition to electric.”

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director of Fastned: “The expansion of EV infrastructure is essential to helping London bring pollution levels down and cleaning up the capital’s air. We are delighted to be partnering with industry-leading ultra-rapid charging company Fastned to offer more people and businesses the confidence to make the transition to cleaner vehicles. We are dedicated to providing London with the green infrastructure it needs to ensure the city continues to work towards a sustainable future.”
Mark Farrow, Director of Strategy and Planning at Places for London
 
“As part of Ealing Council’s commitment to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030, we are working to ensure that there are enough charging points in place to make it easy and convenient for drivers to charge their electric vehicles. Having this ultra-rapid charging facility at Hanger Lane will help reduce the number of petrol and diesel vehicles on the road and improve air quality.”
Councillor Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council
 
"Fastned's partnership with Places for London will assist taxi, private hire, couriers and logistics drivers operating plug-in vehicles in London. By increasing charging stations located across the capital, working drivers will enjoy greater convenience, efficiency and sustainability. Drivers will have access to safe, fast and reliable charging facilities. GMB Union welcomes the integration of toilet facilities as part of the programme, which will be of substantial assistance to workers and is key to workers' health.
 
“GMB union welcomes initiatives that reduce the environmental impact for all, resulting in cleaner air and reduced carbon emissions. Making London a more sustainable and healthier environment is key to long-term growth. Improved hub accessibility contributes to this strategy.”
Steve Garelick of GMB Union