Everything Electric Podcast
Episode Title: The Real Reason Why Charging is SO Expensive...
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: The Fully Charged Show
Guest: Tom Hurst, UK Country Director for FastNed
Episode Overview
In this in-depth and dynamic episode, host Robert Llewellyn explores the realities behind public electric vehicle charging costs with Tom Hurst of FastNed. The conversation covers FastNed's approach to building charging infrastructure, the complexity and cost structure of rapid charging, industry-wide challenges, reliability, customer experience, and what needs to change at policy and industry levels to make EV charging more affordable and accessible in the UK. Throughout, listeners benefit from Tom’s candid insights, industry experience, and a touch of dry wit from both host and guest.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. FastNed’s Approach & Tom’s Role
- [02:46] Tom introduces FastNed as "the company that builds and operates petrol stations for electric cars." He emphasizes their focus on high-quality hubs with canopies for a premium, weather-protected user experience.
- FastNed has been operating in the UK since 2019, building the UK’s first ultra-rapid charging hub in Sunderland.
Quote:
“We build locations where you can drive into a site, fill your car, your electric car, obviously, with as much energy as possible, as quickly as possible and get on the go again.”
— Tom Hurst [02:46]
2. User Experience & The Case for Canopies
- [04:38] FastNed’s signature canopies are not just for looks; they enhance comfort (no rain while charging) and normalize the EV experience, making it akin to using a fuel station.
- Accessibility and visible infrastructure matter for driver confidence.
Quote:
“Why should you as an EV driver be any wetter than a petrol driver?”
— Tom Hurst [04:38]
3. Sector Growth, Perceptions, & Reliability
- [06:05] Tom discusses two narratives: positive experiences among actual EV drivers vs. negative perceptions shaped by tabloid media and non-EV drivers.
- He acknowledges infrastructure must stay ahead of demand and highlights the industry’s £6 billion investment to 2030.
Quote:
“Perception... can very quickly become reality. And that, you know, that's the thing. Right. What we're trying to do... is to really improve driver confidence and improve prospective driver confidence.”
— Tom Hurst [06:41]
- Consistency and reliability are critical. FastNed’s internal reliability metrics are stricter than government requirements (99% uptime and above).
Quote:
“That 1%... any customer that hits that 1%, their whole perception of your network will be shaped.”
— Tom Hurst [09:08]
- The minimum "right" number of chargers per site is evolving: from 2 in 2012, to 6 a few years ago, and now 8 or more, depending on site and usage patterns.
4. Balancing Capacity, Growth, & Costs
-
[12:20] FastNed’s "secret weapon" is investing in underground/future-proofed infrastructure, letting them expand quickly as demand grows—helping maintain redundancy without excessive upfront costs.
-
Site design is evolving: the Newcastle Airport hub is a 12-charger, 400kW, solar-canopied drive-through site, part of a broader multimodal transport development. Drive-through design normalizes the petrol-station feel, aiding transition for new EV drivers.
On Drive-through Sites:
Quote:
“We love building drive thru sites... you drive in with your trailer... and not... annoying a number of other EV drivers... because you're blocking 20 bays.”
— Tom Hurst [13:15]
5. Regional Focus & Lessons
- [16:27] The North East is a FastNed focus because of early faith from local authorities and advanced regional industry (notably Nissan). They prioritize practical, distributed deployment rather than just high-traffic/money areas.
Quote:
“We’re not the company that builds charging hubs where the money is... There are cars all around the UK and... they get well used, they're valued and they really, really help with connectivity for people's day to day lives.”
— Tom Hurst [16:27]
6. The Complexity of Building Sites
- [20:14] Building a new charging hub is contract-heavy, requiring agreements with landowners, grid operators, sometimes independent network operators, and local authorities for planning. Legal negotiations are cited as the biggest source of delay— sometimes outpacing power connection issues.
Quote:
“The biggest lag originates from those legal negotiations that have underpinned the built environment in the UK since the Magna Carta, basically.”
— Tom Hurst [21:55]
- Data centers are not yet in direct competition for prime charging hub land, but Tom notes the grid has recently become more responsive, freeing up “zombie project” capacity.
7. Innovating in London—‘Places for London’ JV
- [24:37] FastNed’s joint venture with Places for London (TfL’s property arm) streamlines deployment by working with a single, publicly-motivated property owner, allowing investment in flagship infrastructure rather than "bare minimum" installations.
8. The Real Reason Why Charging is So Expensive
- [27:25] Charging costs (79p–98p/kWh, public rapid):
- Wholesale energy cost: the same for all providers.
- Grid fees and infrastructure: highly variable, sometimes tens of thousands per year.
- Site maintenance and investment: high CAPEX must be recouped over time.
- VAT: 20% on public charging (vs. 5% for home charging), which FastNed and others view as an unfair burden on those without home chargers.
Quote:
“That is entirely out of control of... the charge point operator. It's an inequality that's, you know, unnecessary and we, we don't like to see. And we're... still very keen for government to, to levelize.”
— Tom Hurst [28:10]
- Reducing costs depends on spreading out CAPEX over more users, lowering grid fees, and (ideally) reforming VAT.
9. Market Dynamics & Price Variations
- Membership plans provide discounts for frequent users, aiding customer retention. Price undercutting (e.g., charging just 39p/kWh) is often a tactic by networks to boost low utilization and attract investors, but costs are similar for all operators.
10. Tom’s Journey & Industry Spirit
- [32:25] Tom’s background: previously at Arup in climate consultancy, where reports often "went on a shelf," he craved direct involvement and results. Chose EV charging over hydrogen for its scalability and practicality.
- The sector’s positive, collaborative spirit impresses him.
Quote:
“What really surprised me... was the degree of collaboration and openness and positivity... everyone was working to build this sector...”
— Tom Hurst [33:05]
- Tom and the host agree: so far, the industry is more about growing the pie than fighting over slices, but this may change as competition intensifies.
11. Wish List for the Future
- [37:07] Tom’s #1 wish: simpler contracts—UK’s lengthy legal processes are a massive deployment drag vs. Netherlands’ 2-page leases.
- Policy certainty is vital for continued infrastructure investment; uncertainty about EV targets and regulation would chill progress.
Quote:
“My wish is to keep [government commitments], because the deployment of infrastructure depends on this. Jobs depend on this. And the UK's competitiveness... is also closely tied to this.”
— Tom Hurst [39:10]
- He expresses concern that drivers will normalize poor experiences (dirty, exposed chargers), but FastNed aims to raise—and meet—expectations.
12. Accessibility & Design
- FastNed designs eye-level charger screens for usability, ensuring accessibility for drivers including wheelchair users.
Quote:
“It really matters to us that everyone is safe and comfortable using this infrastructure. Because we want to sell kilowatt hours of electricity, why would we exclude any particular party or driver? It's fundamental.”
— Tom Hurst [41:29]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On sector pace:
“There are cars all around the UK and what we find when we open these hubs... is that they get well used, they're valued and they really, really help with connectivity for people's day to day lives.”
— Tom Hurst [16:27] -
On charging cost disparity:
“If you're obviously... lucky enough to benefit from the driveway discount, you're paying quite a different sum that is entirely out of control of the charge point operator.”
— Tom Hurst [28:10] -
On infrastructure ambition:
“If you want to build a long-term business that is sustainable and generates returns that are long term as well, you actually need to focus much more on customer experience.”
— Tom Hurst [26:50] -
On sector culture:
“I was really inspired by the degree to which everyone was working to build this sector... creating something from nothing, creating something from an idea, from a vision, and bringing people on board.”
— Tom Hurst [33:05] -
On political will’s importance:
“The common thread is really the political will behind it... that's the main thing that we need. Whatever country we operate in...”
— Tom Hurst [39:59]
Important Timestamps
- 02:46 — Tom introduces FastNed and his role
- 04:38 — The importance of canopies and user experience
- 06:05 — Public perception vs. user reality
- 09:25 — Uptime/reliability stats for charging networks
- 10:19 — Evolution of the “right” number of charging stations
- 12:20 — FastNed’s approach to future-proofing infrastructure
- 13:15 — Detailed discussion about the Newcastle drive-through hub
- 20:14 — Breaking down the site acquisition and construction process
- 24:37 — Partnership with Places for London and impact on infrastructure
- 27:25 — Dissecting the true cost components of rapid charging
- 32:25 — Tom’s background and sector changes
- 37:07 — Wish list for faster, easier deployments and policy certainty
- 41:29 — Accessibility, inclusivity, and user-centered design
Tone, Style & Atmosphere
- Informal, accessible, and friendly, with a blend of “almost breaking news,” British humor, insider anecdotes, and moments of earnest advocacy for better EV infrastructure.
- Tom delivers hard truths with pragmatism and patience; the host keeps proceedings conversational and energetic, encouraging plain-speak explanations and user-centered framing.
For New Listeners: Key Takeaways
- The price of public EV charging is high due to a mix of energy costs, grid connection fees, capital investment, legal hurdles, and VAT disparity.
- FastNed and others are investing ahead of demand, focusing on reliability, scale, and positive user experiences—a deliberate alternative to “cheap and cheerful” installations.
- The UK’s legal and planning environment remains the biggest brake on rapid infrastructure build-out compared to countries like the Netherlands.
- For charging to get cheaper and more accessible, there needs to be regulatory reform (especially around VAT and contracts), consistent government policy signals, and smarter, more customer-focused site design.
- The EV charging sector is marked by collaboration, optimism, and a spirit of “growing the pie”—but this may change as the market matures.