Daily EV news · UK · 19 June 2026
EV Charging
TfL opens 12-bay ultra-rapid charging hub at Hatton Cross with 25 sites planned across London
Transport for London's property arm, Places for London, has launched its first ultra-rapid EV charging hub at Hatton Cross Underground Station in partnership with Dutch operator Fastned. The 12-bay facility delivers 100 miles of range in five minutes and is the first of 25 planned hubs across the capital, with sites at Hanger Lane and an eight-bay project at East Finchley already in development. Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance said TfL is leveraging its position as one of London's largest landowners to deploy charging infrastructure.
Why it matters
The 25-site programme represents a significant public sector procurement pipeline for ultra-rapid charging operators, with TfL's land portfolio offering high-footfall locations near transport nodes. The Fastned partnership model may set a template for how other UK transport authorities structure concessions on publicly owned sites.
Grid & Energy
Britain advances Europe's first China-independent lithium refinery at Billingham, targeting 500,000 EV batteries a year
Tees Valley Lithium, a subsidiary of Alkemy Capital Investments, has published an impact report for a £185 million lithium hydroxide refinery at the Billingham Chemical Complex near Hull. The plant would produce enough battery-grade lithium annually for more than 500,000 electric vehicles and is projected to support close to 1,700 jobs and add £2.1 billion to the UK economy over 25 years. The project addresses Europe's reliance on China, which refines roughly two thirds of global lithium chemicals according to the IEA's latest Global Critical Minerals Outlook.
Why it matters
The refinery would give European battery plants a domestic source of lithium hydroxide, reducing dependence on Chinese midstream processing at a time when gigafactories from Sunderland to Skellefteå are scaling production. For procurement teams and charge point operators, a stable European battery supply chain lowers risk in the EV rollout and could accelerate vehicle availability across fleets.