Inside Fastned’s Plan to Build the Petrol Stations of the Electric Age
In this episode of the Everything Electric PODCAST, Imogen Bhogal sits down with Tom Hurst, UK Country Director for Fastned, to pull back the curtain on the UK’s rapid charging revolution.
Tom explains why Fastned is moving beyond simple “parking bays with plugs” to build high-visibility, amenity-first charging hubs that keep you sheltered from the rain and your battery topped up at speeds of up to 400kW. They also dive into the “mammoth” joint venture with Places for London (TfL’s property arm) and why legal contracts, not just grid power, are often the biggest hurdle to a seamless charging experience.
Timestamps
0:00 Welcome to Everything Electric
1:40 Who is Fastned? Petrol Stations for the Electric Age
3:50 Hunting “White Whales”: Top Priorities for 2026
5:40 Infrastructure Reality: Is Charging Actually Improving?
7:25 Consistency is Key: Beyond Basic Reliability
9:00 The Magic Number: How Many Chargers per Site?
11:55 Newcastle Airport: The Future of Drive-Through Hubs
14:15 The Northeast Advantage: Why Fastned Started in Sunderland
18:40 The Developer’s Headache: Landlords, Power, and Law
21:45 Zombie Projects: Clearing the Grid Connection Backlog
23:33 The Places for London Partnership (Joint Venture)
26:33 The Cost of Charging: Breaking Down Energy & Grid Fees
32:53 Tom Hurst: Transitioning from Consultancy to Infrastructure
36:43 The Industry Wishlist: Simplifying Legal Landscapes
41:13 Conclusion: Designing for the Next 30 Years
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