Farms offer ideal spot for EV charging stations
20th October 2025
As the percentage of electric vehicles (EV) on the road continues to rise, and with farms facing increasing financial pressure, it’s no surprise many are turning spare land into EV charging stations – a diversification that requires little maintenance or capital outlay.
Fastned has been working with farmers to develop electric vehicle charging stations on underutilised land – and it’s a symbiotic relationship, giving landowners additional revenue, and providing Fastned with ideal locations, explains expansion lead Teddy Kealey.
Key benefits for farms include:
- Long-term secure rental income from what is often underutilised land – leases are typically 30 years or more
- Fastned handles the entire life cycle of the process – the planning application, construction, delivery and of course the operation as well
- It’s a very hands-off type investment, with essentially no capital outlay for the farm
- Enhancing the farm’s environmental credentials
- Opportunity for additional revenue through retail such as shops and cafes for drivers to visit.
The company operates 35 (and counting) charging hubs in the UK. One most recent project includes an ultra-rapid charging hub in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, which was completed on 5th June 2025.
It was built on a greenfield site, which Fastned is used to working on, located off the A47. The station features an initial six charging bays powered by 100% renewable energy, offering up to 400kW of power and delivering up to 300 miles of charge in as little as 20 minutes.
The Freebridge hub, situated on a 0.5-acre site, was built in Fastned’s signature drive-thru format with overhead canopies, providing an easy, convenient and weather-protected charging experience.
It took only around three months to build. The only small hurdle was an overhead line which needed diverting, which Fastned’s construction team handled easily in conjunction with the distribution network operator (DNO).
Is your site suitable?
For those interested in a charging site on their farm, Fastned will initially visit the site to check suitability and discuss the process, before negotiating the lease.
Criteria includes:
- Access to busy roads is key, and visibility from the road is a big plus
- A space of around 0.2–1+ acres
- A flat site on uncontaminated land, ideally not in a greenbelt area but this is a hurdle that can be overcome.
Grid connection is applied for early to ensure availability and affordability – and the cost of this is covered by Fastned. Stations can be delivered quickly, depending on external factors such as planning permission and grid connection, but the company is a “well-oiled machine” with a successful track record in getting projects wrapped up in a timely way.
All that’s really needed from the farmer is to instruct solicitors in negotiating the lease agreement, and giving consent to the distribution network operator for their substation, Mr Kealey explains.
Farmers will get a quarterly fixed rent, which is index-linked and reviewed every five years to ensure they don’t lose out due to inflation. However, for those wanting to take a bit more risk and see potentially higher profits, there’s an option for revenue share – or a mixture of revenue share and a lower fixed rent.
Design and reliability
Fastned puts a big emphasis on delivering good quality station design and safe, intuitive, drive-through layout. Its distinctive yellow canopies offer protection from the rain while capturing solar energy to help power the lighting and facilities at the station.
The in-house software team built a bespoke auto-charge feature which means drivers can register their car with Fastned through an app and any Fastned station in Europe will recognise their car when they plug in, and start charging immediately.
Reliability is also key for the business; the company is leading the way with a 99% reliability rating which means drivers trust the service provided. It also has a 24/7, in-house customer support team.
For more information visit the QR code to get in touch with the Fastned team.
Fastned will be exhibiting at the Farm Business Innovation Show on stand number: FM530
About Fastned
Fastned was founded in The Netherlands in 2012 and is now operating in nine countries – starting in the UK in 2019, where it also built the first ultra-rapid charger.
The company founders remain heavily involved in the company and were some of the first pioneers in ultra-rapid and EV charging in The Netherlands.
The company now has over 35 charging stations in the UK and 380 across Europe, but its target for 2030 is to expand to 1,000, with the UK being one of its most significant markets.
Find a Fastned station near you.
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