New ultra-rapid EV charging hub opens near Heathrow with a week of free charging

A new ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging hub has opened at Hatton Cross Underground station near Heathrow, and drivers can charge there for free for a full working week.

The hub is the first to open under a partnership between Fastned and Places for London, the commercial property arm of Transport for London (TfL).

To mark the opening, Fastned is offering five days of free charging at the site, running from Monday (15 June) to Friday (19 June 2026).

Drivers do not need to book or pre-register. According to Fastned, they simply turn up, authorise a charge with their normal payment method, and charge for free.

The promotion runs from 00:01 on 15 June until 23:59 on 19 June and applies only at the Hatton Cross site.

The company notes that a temporary pre-authorisation charge may still appear on a driver’s bank account when starting a session. This is released in full, usually within one to two business days, and no payment is taken. Full terms are available on the Fastned website.

The hub features 12 ultra-rapid charging bays rated at 400kW, which Fastned says can deliver up to 100 miles of range in five minutes. It is open 24/7 and powered entirely by renewable energy.

The site is designed for vehicles of all sizes, from cars and taxis to vans and smaller commercial vehicles. It includes extra-wide bays and two fully accessible charging spaces built to the latest British Standards Institution guidance, along with toilet facilities, weather protection from Fastned’s solar canopies, CCTV across the site, and 24/7 multilingual customer support.

Hatton Cross sits within easy reach of Heathrow Airport, the M25, M4, and A30, positioning it for airport commuters, local residents, taxi and private hire drivers, and business fleets.

The hub is the first of 25 that the partnership plans to deliver across London. It forms part of the work towards the Mayor’s manifesto target of supporting up to 40,000 charge points in the capital by 2030.

Public charging matters most to drivers without access to a driveway or garage. A 2024 Travel Demand Survey found that 93% of inner London households and 64% of outer London households lack private off-street parking.

London already leads the UK on EV uptake, with around 271,000 plug-in electric cars and vans registered in the capital and more than 28,000 charging devices in place – over 30% of all EV charging infrastructure in the country and more than any other UK region.

The number of EVs on London’s roads is projected to rise to between 860,000 and 1,049,000 by 2030, making up 29 to 36 per cent of the city’s car and van fleet. Up to 51,000 charge points are expected to be needed to meet that demand, including up to 3,500 higher-powered devices.

Beyond Hatton Cross, the partnership has planning in place for a flagship 36-bay hub at Hanger Lane and an 8-bay hub at East Finchley Underground station car park.

Three further sites are in planning across Newham, Haringey, and Barking and Dagenham, with another seven due to be submitted for borough review by the end of the year.

Each site is set to return a share of revenue to local projects and climate initiatives, and the partnership has committed to apprenticeships and work experience placements aimed at closing the “green skills” gap.

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Mete Coban said the opening was an important step in helping more Londoners switch to electric vehicles.

He said it was vital to provide the charging infrastructure to support drivers as more people choose electric cars, vans, and taxis, particularly those without off-street parking.

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned, described Hatton Cross as a landmark moment for the joint venture with Places for London and a step towards powering up the capital where it matters most.

He said the site was designed around people on the go, whether commuting, visiting, running a fleet, or living without a driveway.

John Colgan, EV Charging Hubs Project Manager at Places for London, said the opening showed what collaboration could achieve and set a benchmark for future charging developments, with Hatton Cross positioned to serve the high volumes of traffic around Heathrow.

Amanda Francis, Chief Executive of AICES, said the hub was a vital driver for investment in zero-emission commercial vehicles and that ultra-rapid facilities for larger vehicles along key freight routes were essential to the express parcel sector’s transition to zero-emission fleets.

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