Fastned chosen as top EV charging partner in London expansion.
Places for London – Transport for London’s (TfL) property company – has chosen Fastned as its preferred partner for a new joint venture aimed at developing multiple electric vehicle (EV) ultra-rapid charging hubs throughout its estate. This move aligns with the Mayor of London’s goal to achieve Net Zero carbon by 2030 and will involve the creation of off-street urban charging hubs capable of charging multiple vehicles at high speeds. Additionally, these hubs will enhance the local areas by incorporating retail and other amenities, such as toilets on larger sites where feasible.
Upon selecting the preferred bidder, Places for London is seeking approval from TfL’s Land and Property Committee to establish the joint venture promptly, expected to happen later this year, with the first site scheduled to open in 2026.
The joint venture’s focus is on accessibility and safety, with the charging infrastructure striving to meet or exceed the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 and following best practices outlined by the British Standards Institution on accessible charging infrastructure. Customer safety will be paramount, with emphasis on clear lines of sight, high illumination lighting, CCTV surveillance, and on-site presence where additional facilities are provided to ensure a positive and inclusive experience for all customers.
Fastned, the selected partner, currently operates one of London’s most bustling ultra-rapid charging hubs in Greenwich, offering electric vehicle owners up to 300 miles of range in just 20 minutes. Renowned as the best ultra-rapid charging network in the UK, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, Fastned runs 25 charging hubs in the UK and over 325 across Europe, boasting high uptime due to its data-driven, in-house operational and maintenance teams.
London presently counts 180,000 plug-in electric cars and vans, with approximately 21,600 charge points. London leads the way in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with about a third of all EV charging infrastructure in the UK located in the capital, surpassing any other UK region. By collaborating with Fastned, Places for London aims to develop a long-term delivery plan to exert influence and control over the electric vehicle charging offerings on the TfL estate while fostering opportunities for broader collaboration with Places for London’s other joint ventures and strategic partners.
Moreover, to expedite the delivery of charging hubs, Places for London has identified a pipeline of potential EV charging hub sites. The joint venture aims to start offering charging hubs as swiftly as possible by focusing on five initial locations, each with the capacity to provide a minimum of six publicly accessible ultra-rapid charging bays, including provisions for those with accessibility needs. These hubs will allow drivers to charge their vehicles in approximately 30 minutes. The first of the five sites is set to begin construction in 2025 and open to customers in 2026, with hopes to deliver at least 25 hubs across the estate and a potential to scale up to 65 hubs based on market demand and opportunities.
By establishing a long-term joint venture, Places for London will shape the design and delivery of the hubs while generating revenue that can be reinvested into the transport network. This initiative aims to encourage a shift towards more sustainable means of transportation.
Mark Farrow, Director of Strategy and Planning at Places for London, expressed enthusiasm for partnering with Fastned and highlighted the pivotal role the new electric vehicle charging hubs will play in enabling high-mileage businesses to transition to EVs confidently.
Tom Hurst, UK Country Director for Fastned, shared the commitment to providing Londoners with an exceptional EV charging network to facilitate daily trips and longer journeys, contributing to London’s transition to electric vehicles.
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Mete Coban emphasised London’s leadership in becoming the electric vehicle capital of the world and reiterated the commitment to expanding the city’s charging network in the coming years.
Amanda Zambon, Policy Director of the Association of International Courier & Express Services (AICES), welcomed the announcement of the upcoming ultra-rapid charging hubs in London, highlighting the importance of accommodating commercial vehicle needs to support the deployment of electric vehicles in the industry.
Notably, of the 1,200 EV charging points across the capital, a significant number are rapid or ultra-rapid charging points, with approximately 300 delivered by TfL. Recognising the growing demand, TfL anticipates a need for around 4,000 rapid charge points by 2030, prompting efforts to utilise more of its land for EV charging bays and collaborating with GLA family members and borough councils to expand the charging infrastructure across London.
In conclusion, the partnership between Places for London and Fastned heralds a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable London by fostering the adoption of electric vehicles and reducing carbon emissions. Together, they aim to revolutionise the city’s charging infrastructure and make EV charging more accessible and efficient for all Londoners.
Images courtesy of Transport for London and Fastned.
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