The site will become Fastned’s 40th UK hub, offering a convenient, easily accessible location with eight ultra-rapid charging bays alongside Fastned’s distinctive yellow wings. The chargers can deliver up to 400 kW, potentially adding as much as 200 miles (333 km) of range in just 10 minutes. 

Located off Sefton Street at the Brunswick Business Park, on Tower Street, the brand new hub will further strengthen Fastned’s growing UK network, providing reliable, high-quality charging infrastructure to make it easier for more drivers to switch to electric.

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned:“As our 40th UK ultra-rapid charging hub in the UK, Liverpool Brunswick marks a significant and exciting milestone, as we continue to expand our network and make it easier for EV drivers to go further. Liverpool draws visitors from far and wide for its legendary music, football, waterfront, museums, architecture, nightlife and food.

“Located at Brunswick Business Park, just a short drive from the city centre, shops and vibrant Baltic Triangle, the new hub provides convenient charging for local businesses, residents and visitors alike, making it easy to charge up and explore everything Liverpool has to offer. 

“We’re delighted to welcome Liverpool Brunswick to the Fastned family.”

Fastned is helping communities and visitors alike stay connected by expanding its network of easy-to-use, safe and comfortable charging hubs across the UK.  

Designed for everyone, extra-wide bays make parking and manoeuvring user-friendly, including for drivers using wheelchairs or mobility aids, while suspended cable systems take the heavy lifting out of ultra-rapid charging. Fastned’s iconic yellow Solar Tree canopies make its hubs instantly recognisable, while smaller hubs feature distinctive wings. Some locations also incorporate a drive-through layout, allowing cars, vans and vehicles with trailers to charge with ease while providing shelter from adverse weather, including rain and shade from the sun.  

Many Fastned hubs also offer on-site amenities to make charging stops more convenient and comfortable, with facilities such as toilets, refreshments and nearby food options available at selected locations. 

As more drivers take to the roads in electric vehicles (EV), Fastned, the EV charging network powered by 100% renewable energy, commissioned research among 2,000 UK drivers, including 1,000 dedicated EV drivers, to explore the nation’s changing attitudes towards summer road trips.

One of the top findings from the survey revealed that 87% of Brits have already travelled, or would consider travelling, to staycation destinations by electric vehicle.

In fact, 90% of EV drivers surveyed (net majority) said they were firmly behind ultra-rapid charging, offered by the likes of Fastned, which could allow most motorists to charge their EV with up to 300 miles of range, in just 20 minutes, helping them reach their countryside and coastal destinations quicker.

With 51 per cent of Brits saying they are more likely to holiday in the UK than they were five years ago, Britain’s great road trips are proving there’s plenty of reason to stay local and hit the road this summer. The research also revealed the top 10 destinations for electric vehicle road trippers, with Norfolk and North East England ranking among the top five.

County Durham, the Kentish Coast and the Suffolk Coast also featured in the top 10, offering drivers a stress-free getaway with plenty of opportunities to recharge both their vehicle and themselves.

Confidence in the UK’s public charging infrastructure is also at an all-time high, with 81% of EV motorists surveyed saying they feel assured that the charging network can now support them on long-distance journeys.

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned, said: “We believe the driver comes first, so we looked to uncover what the future of summer road trips looks like for UK motorists, including specifically EV drivers. From where people are heading to what makes a great staycation destination, we wanted to explore how travel habits are shifting gears and what’s powering the next generation of road trips.

“Across much of mainland Europe, there’s a well-known phenomenon called ‘Black Weekend’ or ‘Black Saturday’, the moment when millions of people hit the roads at the same time to head to their favourite beaches, coastlines and countryside spots for their summer getaway. Think ‘Black Friday’, but for summer travel.

“We were intrigued to find out whether Britain is starting to develop its own version and whether EV drivers are helping to drive a new era of summer travel.”

According to the research, the weekend of 7th August was identified by those polled as the UK’s peak summer getaway weekend, making it possibly the UK’s equivalent of Europe’s “Black Weekend” (or “Black Saturday”), a popular term used across Europe to describe the busiest summer travel period within the country. In fact, over the past five years, 56 per cent said they have consciously moved towards a lifestyle more traditionally associated with countries like Spain, France, Monaco and Italy.

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned, added: “As more people switch to electric, understanding how, when and where they travel will be key to keeping the UK’s EV transition moving.”

Carried out through OnePoll, the UK Summer Travel research also found:

• Four in 10 people (40 per cent) now eat outdoors more frequently than they used to, while 26 per cent have adopted a slower pace of life.
• Around three in 10 (28 per cent) now take more time to enjoy and savour meals, and 37 per cent like spending more time outdoors and enjoying their surroundings.

UK’s TOP 10 BEST STAYCATION DESTINATIONS FOR EV DRIVERS WERE:

1. Cornwall – e.g. St Ives, Falmouth, Penzance, Land’s End
2. Cotswolds – e.g. Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bibury
3. Scotland / Gateway to the Highlands – e.g. Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands
4. Norfolk – e.g. North Norfolk Coast, Hunstanton, Wells-next-the-Sea, Sandringham
5. North East England – e.g. Northumberland, Bamburgh, Alnwick, Holy Island
6. Kent Coast – e.g. White Cliffs of Dover, Deal, Folkestone, Sandwich
7. North East Coast – e.g. Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, Newcastle
8. Suffolk Coast – e.g. Aldeburgh, Southwold, Woodbridge
9. County Durham – e.g. Durham City, Beamish Museum, North Pennines
10. West London – e.g. Windsor, Richmond, Kew Gardens

The nature-inspired CPO has 39 ultra-rapid charging hubs across the UK, including locations in all of the survey’s top EV staycation destinations, and more than 440 across Europe, Fastned’s growing network is helping EV drivers go further and get to where they need to be.

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director for Fastned, added: “We're seeing more people embrace staycations, longer road trips and electric vehicles, as a more sustainable, and indeed, affordable way to travel. We wanted to understand whether those trends are beginning to converge, and how they're changing the way people think about summer journeys.

“After all, the best road trips aren't about standing still; they're about where the road takes you next."

As more drivers embrace electric travel, access to reliable ultra-rapid charging will be key to unlocking more UK adventures. Fastned is helping communities and visitors alike stay connected by expanding its network of easy-to-use, safe and comfortable charging hubs across the UK.

Designed for everyone, extra-wide bays make parking and manoeuvring user-friendly, including for drivers using wheelchairs or mobility aids, while suspended cable systems take the heavy lifting out of ultra-rapid charging. Fastned’s iconic yellow Solar Tree canopies make its hubs instantly recognisable, while smaller hubs feature distinctive wings. Some locations also incorporate a drive-through layout, allowing cars, vans and vehicles with trailers to charge with ease while providing shelter from adverse weather, including rain and shade from the sun.

Many Fastned hubs also offer on-site amenities to make charging stops more convenient and comfortable, with facilities such as toilets, refreshments and nearby food options available at selected locations.

Fastned and Vereniging Elektrische Rijders (VER) welcomed policymakers, local authorities, charge point operators, fleet leaders and industry experts to the inaugural Plugged In Café in London earlier this month.

Inspired by Fastned and VER’s successful EV Café events in the Netherlands, the first UK edition brought together voices from across the public and private sectors to explore how stronger partnerships can accelerate London’s transition to electric mobility.

Hosted at The Conduit in Covent Garden, the event created a new forum for collaboration, bringing together key stakeholders from across the EV ecosystem to exchange ideas, tackle shared challenges and help shape the future of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Designing an EV city around real-world charging needs

The event featured three expert panel discussions exploring the biggest opportunities and barriers shaping London’s rapidly evolving EV charging landscape.

The opening session examined how charging infrastructure must adapt to serve an increasingly diverse range of users. Moderated by Ellen Hiep (VER), the panel brought together Olly Craughan (DPD UK), Tanya Sinclair (Electric Vehicles UK) and Judith Hayton (Transport for London).

From private motorists and commercial fleets to taxis and last-mile delivery operators, the discussion highlighted the vastly different charging needs across the transport network. Panellists agreed that a diverse range of users can only be served by a diverse range of charging solutions, with no single approach able to meet every need.

As London electrifies, on-street charging and ultra-rapid charging hubs will play a vital role in supporting those without access to home charging, while enabling businesses and fleets to transition to electric. Understanding real-world behaviour and the operational needs of different users will be essential when planning the charging infrastructure of the future.

Building the charging ecosystem

Next, panellists examined the wider charging ecosystem, exploring the building blocks needed to support the EV transition.

Moderated by Fastned, this panel brought together Eleanor Clark (Transport for London), John Colgan (Places for London) and Zak Bond (Clean Cities) to explore what it will take to deliver charging infrastructure at scale.

The discussion concluded that building a future-ready charging network is about far more than installing charge points. Grid capacity, strategic land availability, investment, digital technology and strong public-private partnerships were all identified as essential ingredients in creating a reliable, accessible and resilient charging ecosystem.

Unlocking London’s charging future

Rounding off the afternoon before guests continued the conversation over drinks and nibbles, the final panel, “Policy, Planning and Permits - How do we unlock London’s charging future?”, brought together Tom Hurst (Fastned), Jarrod Birch (Charge UK) and Mark Fletcher (London Councils), with Ellen Hiep returning to moderate a lively discussion on the policy and planning changes needed to accelerate London’s EV charging rollout.

The conversation highlighted the critical role local authorities can play in removing barriers to deployment through clear electrification strategies, consistent planning decisions and stronger collaboration with industry partners.

Collaboration is key

A recurring theme throughout the afternoon was that London’s charging ecosystem must be designed around the needs of an increasingly diverse mix of users, from private drivers and commercial fleets to taxis and public transport providers.

Commercial fleets were recognised as a defining force in the evolution of new mobility, with speakers highlighting the importance of charging infrastructure that reflects the operational realities of businesses transitioning to electric.

While reducing unnecessary car movements and enabling home charging remain important levers for decarbonisation, the discussion reinforced that accessible public charging, including on-street charging and ultra-rapid charging hubs, will be essential to ensuring no driver or business is left behind.

Speakers also highlighted the need for more opportunities for national government, local authorities and the private sector to work together, sharing requirements, addressing challenges and finding solutions to deliver charging infrastructure more quickly and equitably.

Looking ahead

The inaugural Plugged In Café highlighted the value of bringing together experts from across government, transport and industry to share knowledge, address common challenges and identify practical solutions for the future of EV charging.

Fastned and VER would like to thank all speakers, moderators and attendees who contributed to the success of the event. Following the positive response, planning is already underway for the next Plugged In Café. 

To find out more or register your interest in future events, please get in touch with Denise Cannas (denise.cannas@fastned.nl).

5 October 2022: Fastned, the European rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging company, has subscribed to ChargeSafe, a public charging endorsement body that independently inspects and rates EV charging locations.

ChargeSafe is inspecting and rating all of Fastned’s UK-based charging locations this year, based on over 60 criteria for safety and accessibility, with ratings out of five made publicly available. By subscribing, Fastned can review the detailed data behind the scores to identify specific areas to further improve the charging service it offers its customers.

ChargeSafe’s accessibility criteria have been developed in line with the draft PAS1899 BSI standards for accessible charge points. Combined with detailed safety criteria, from lighting and CCTV to nearby facilities and busy-ness, the simple rating system will provide drivers with more informed charging options for day and night.

Fastned is a leading European rapid charging company that was founded ten years ago in the Netherlands. Operating a quickly expanding network of more than 200 stations across six countries, Fastned opened its first UK-based station in Sunderland in 2019. With its long term experience, Fastned offers a ultra-rapid charging concept that is highly valued by its customers.
 

ChargeSafe will be assessing all Fastned stations, with the recently launched flagship station at Energy Superhub Oxford scoring a rating of 4.28.

"Large-scale investment to boost the development, deployment and integration of clean energy technologies," Birol writes, "should be a central part of governments’ plans because it will bring the twin benefits of stimulating economies and accelerating clean energy transitions."

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