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. 00:00 Welcome to Everything Electric 01:40 Who is Fastned? Petrol Stations for the Electric Age 03:50 Hunting "White Whales": Top Priorities for 2026 05:40 Infrastructure Reality: Is Charging Actually Improving? 07:25 Consistency is Key: Beyond Basic Reliability 09:00 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 Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: www.everythingelectric.show Check out our sister channel:
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