Thursday, December 12, 2024
Infrastructure and TechnologyLatestNews

Fastned joins forces with Places for London to expand EV charging network

Electric vehicle charging company Fastned has formed a joint venture with Places for London – Transport for London’s property company – and will initially develop five ultra-rapid charging hubs.

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. Both companies intend to expand the network by the end of the decade to 25 sites.

The joint venture will help to further accelerate London’s transition to electric mobility to help meet the Mayor of London’s sustainability goals.

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 will dramatically increase Fastned’s UK network and provide a valuable resource to EV drivers in London.

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. F

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director of Fastned, said:

“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.”

Mark Farrow, Director of Strategy and Planning at Places for London, commented:

“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.”

Image courtesy of Fastned.

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