Drivers can charge their electric vehicle for free this week after a new ultra-rapid EV hub opened near Heathrow. The 12-bay charging site at Hatton Cross Underground station will operate 24 hours a day and is aimed at drivers needing quick charging close to Heathrow Airport.
It is the first charging hub to open under a partnership between Fastned and Places for London, Transport for London’s property company.
The new site includes ultra-rapid chargers capable of delivering up to 400kW, which TfL says could provide up to 100 miles of range in around five minutes, depending on the vehicle.
Free charging will be available at the Hatton Cross hub from Monday 15 June until Friday 19 June 2026.
Drivers will still need to start a charge using a valid payment method, but Fastned says no charge will be applied during the opening week promotion.
The hub is expected to be used by taxi and private hire drivers, commercial vehicle operators, airport workers, local residents and people travelling to or from Heathrow.
Located close to Heathrow Airport, the M25, M4 and A30, the site has been designed for drivers who need quick and reliable charging while on the move.
TfL says the charging hub is powered entirely by renewable energy and includes extra-wide bays, two fully accessible charging spaces, CCTV coverage, weather protection from Fastned’s yellow solar canopies and 24/7 multilingual customer support.
The opening comes as London continues to expand its electric vehicle charging network.
TfL says the capital now has more than 28,000 public charging devices, which is more than 30 per cent of the UK’s public charging infrastructure.
London is also expected to see a sharp rise in electric vehicles over the next few years.
TfL estimates that by 2030 there could be between 860,000 and just over one million electric cars and vans on London’s roads.
For many Londoners, public charging remains important because a large number of households do not have access to private off-street parking.
EV hub opens near Heathrow as part of wider charging rollout
The opening is part of a wider push to improve public EV charging across London, particularly for drivers who cannot charge vehicles at home.
This includes professional drivers who rely on quick charging between jobs, as well as local residents, airport workers and people travelling near Heathrow.
Transport for London says more ultra-rapid hubs are planned across the capital as demand for electric vehicles continues to grow.
Public charging hubs close to major roads, stations and airports are likely to become increasingly important as more drivers move away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
The Hatton Cross site is the first of 25 planned ultra-rapid charging hubs under the Fastned and Places for London partnership.
Further sites are already being planned, including a 36-bay hub at Hanger Lane and an eight-bay hub at East Finchley Underground station car park.
Other proposed locations are also going through the planning process in Newham, Haringey, and Barking and Dagenham.
Read more TfL and transport news here.
City Hall says the new hub will support London’s wider target of reaching net zero carbon by 2030.
It also comes as more professional drivers, including taxi and private hire drivers, rely on fast and accessible charging during the working day.
Mete Coban, London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said the opening was an important step in helping more Londoners make the switch to electric vehicles.
He said London was already leading the way on charging infrastructure, but added that further investment was needed to make sure drivers without off-street parking were not left behind.
Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned, said the Hatton Cross opening was a “landmark moment” for the company’s partnership with Places for London.
He said the site had been designed around drivers who need fast, reliable and easy-to-use charging while travelling across the capital.
The launch was attended by Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Mete Coban, London’s Transport Commissioner Andy Lord, and representatives from Fastned and Places for London.
The new hub is now open 24 hours a day.
Just charged my car there…the app is quite fiddly. Best to tap card and it will take a pre authorisation charge of £40. But will return the money to account straight after