The Real Reason Why Charging is SO Expensive...

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: https://www.youtube.com/c/EverythingElectricShow   Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff Become an Everything Electric Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow Become a YouTube member: use JOIN button above Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0 Subscribe for episode alerts and the Everything Electric newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialeverythingelectric To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: [email protected]   EE NORTH (Harrogate) - 8th & 9th May 2026  EE WEST (Cheltenham) - 12th & 13th June 2026  EE GREATER LONDON (Twickenham) - 11th & 12th Sept 2026 EE SYDNEY - Sydney Olympic Park - 18th - 20th Sept 2026