Fastned

File:Fastned logo 01.jpg

Fastned B.V. was founded in February 2012 by Michiel Langezaal and Bart Lubbers, the son of former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers.{{Cite web |url = https://drimble.nl/bedrijf/amsterdam/24353671/fastned-bv.html |title = Fastned BV |website = Drimble |language = Dutch |access-date = April 7, 2020 }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/laadpaal-oorlog-om-de-elektrische-rijders-is-ontbrand~a6a40b61/ |title = Laadpaal-oorlog om de elektrische rijders is ontbrand |last = Voermans |first = Ton |website = Algemeen Dagblad |language = Dutch |access-date = April 12, 2020 |date = April 12, 2018 }} The company received a permit that same year to build and operate charging stations at 201 rest areas in the Netherlands for a period of fifteen years.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/economie/laadpalenoorlog-ontbrandt-langs-nederlandse-snelwegen~a922eec9/ |title = Laadpalenoorlog ontbrandt langs Nederlandse snelwegen |date = January 24, 2018 |language = Dutch |access-date = April 12, 2020 |website = Algemeen Dagblad |last = Bremmer |first = David }} The first four locations opened in November 2013, the first of which was located at rest area Palmpol in Terschuur, Gelderland.{{Cite web |url = https://presspage-production-content.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2519/fastned-annual-report-2013-1-378490.pdf |date = March 21, 2014 |access-date = April 10, 2020 |title = Annual report 2013 |website = Fastned }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.omroepgelderland.nl/nieuws/2043979/Eerste-snellaadstation-langs-de-snelweg |date = November 27, 2013 |access-date = July 26, 2020 |language = Dutch |last = Pit |first = Henrico |title = Eerste snellaadstation langs de snelweg |website = Omroep Gelderland }}

Building a single charging station required about €200,000.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/ondernemen/1104348/fastned-biedt-investeerders-gratis-opladen-auto |title = Fastned biedt investeerders gratis opladen auto |language = Dutch |access-date = July 24, 2020 |date = May 19, 2015 |last = Koot |first = Jeroen |website = Het Financieele Dagblad }} That money came from a number of funds owned by wealthy families, one of which was the Lubbers family fund called "Breesaap", that loaned €10 million.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/Print/krant/Rubriek/Snelbaan/1134630/laadpaalexploitant-fastned-trekt-geld-aan-om-kosten-tot-2019-te-dekken |title = Laadpaalexploitant Fastned trekt geld aan om kosten tot 2019 te dekken |date = January 11, 2016 |language = Dutch |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |access-date = July 25, 2020 }} That loan was later converted to shares.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/ondernemen/1208323/investeerder-in-fastned-zet-lening-om-in-aandelen |title = Investeerder in Fastned zet lening om in aandelen |date = June 29, 2017 |language = Dutch |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |access-date = July 25, 2020 }} Besides, the company started issuing stock certificates on NPEX, a stock exchange aimed at SMEs, in July 2014, raising €3.2 million in one and a half years.{{Cite news |url = https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/geld-en-werk/artikel/679391/verkoop-certificaten-fastned-valt-tegen |title = Verkoop certificaten Fastned valt tegen |access-date = July 24, 2020 |language = Dutch |date = May 21, 2015 |last = Smit |first = Mathijs |website = RTL Nieuws }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/geld-en-werk/artikel/65496/verkoop-certificaten-fastned-blijft-tegenvallen |title = Verkoop certificaten Fastned blijft tegenvallen |website = RTL Nieuws |language = Dutch |access-date = July 25, 2020 |date = March 15, 2016 |last = Smit |first = Mathijs }}

The fiftieth charging station near Goes was opened by former Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in January 2016.{{Cite web |url = https://www.ad.nl/zeeland/balkenende-opent-bij-goes-het-vijftigste-fastnedstation~a40c9062/ |title = Balkenende opent bij Goes het vijftigste Fastnedstation |date = January 20, 2016 |access-date = April 11, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = Algemeen Dagblad }} Due to the low proportion of electric vehicles in the Netherlands at the time, most charging stations were used between two and four times per day according to Fastned.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/auto/de-stress-van-de-elektrische-auto-haal-ik-de-laadpaal~a5db39e3/ |title = De stress van de elektrische auto: haal ik de laadpaal? |website = Algemeen Dagblad |language = Dutch |access-date = April 11, 2020 |date = February 6, 2016 |last = Voermans |first = Ton }} In April, Fastned became the first company to be listed on Nxchange when it raised €3 million in five weeks through the issue of stock certificates.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/beurs/1152749/fastned-haalt-3-mln-op-met-emissie-op-alternatieve-beurs |title = Fastned haalt € 3 mln op met emissie alternatieve beurs |last = Grol |first = Carel |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |access-date = July 25, 2020 |language = Dutch |date = May 23, 2016 }} The company also issued bonds with a total face value of €22 million in 2016 and 2017.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/ondernemen/1178340/fastned-trekt-weer-vers-kapitaal-aan-voor-snellaadstations |date = December 5, 2016 |language = Dutch |access-date = July 25, 2020 |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |title = Fastned trekt weer vers kapitaal aan voor snellaadstations }}{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/ondernemen/1205027/fastned-haalt-7-7-mln-op-met-vijfjaarslening |date = June 7, 2017 |language = Dutch |access-date = July 25, 2020 |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |title = Fastned haalt € 7,7 mln op met vijfjaarslening }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/economie/business/artikel/3758651/fastned-haalt-12-miljoen-op-voor-uitbreiding-snellaadnetwerk |title = Fastned haalt 12 miljoen op voor uitbreiding snellaadnetwerk |date = December 7, 2017 |language = Dutch |website = RTL Nieuws |access-date = July 25, 2020 |last = Rodenburg |first = Sjors }}

In 2018, the usage of Fastned's charging stations had slowly increased to an average of five to six customers daily. According to Langezaal, nearly one third of the stations were breaking even, having between 15 and 20 customers per day. The company's first foreign charging station was opened in June 2018 close to Limburg an der Lahn in Germany.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/auto/fastned-opent-eerste-snellaadstation-in-duitsland~a6e21e29/ |title = Fastned opent eerste snellaadstation in Duitsland |last = Kouwenhoven |first = Erik |access-date = April 13, 2020 |language = Dutch |date = June 23, 2018 |website = Algemeen Dagblad }} Fastned also started constructing some smaller locations at Albert Heijn supermarkets and reached the mark of 100 charging stations in June 2019.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/tilburg/snellaadstation-bij-albert-heijn-xl-in-tilburg-officieel-geopend~af6e576e/ |title = Snellaadstation bij Albert Heijn XL in Tilburg officieel geopend |date = December 6, 2018 |access-date = April 13, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = Algemeen Dagblad |last = Harthoorn |first = Jasper }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.telegraaf.nl/financieel/791417275/fastned-opent-honderdste-snellaadstation |title = Fastned opent honderdste snellaadstation |date = June 13, 2019 |access-date = July 26, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = De Telegraaf }}

The company started being listed on Euronext Amsterdam on 21 June 2019, one week later than planned, making it possible for investors to convert their Nxchange stock certificates to Euronext certificates.{{Cite news |url = https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/economie/beurs/artikel/4744181/fasted-beurs-euronext-aex-beursgang |website = RTL Nieuws |access-date = July 26, 2020 |language = Dutch |date = June 12, 2019 |title = Fastned wil 30 miljoen ophalen met beursgang }} The price rose from €11 to €53 on its first day, but returned to a price slightly above the initial price in the following days.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/economie/beleggersclub-zet-vraagtekens-bij-koersexplosie-fastned~aea48093/ |website = Algemeen Dagblad |language = Dutch |access-date = April 14, 2020 |title = Beleggersclub zet vraagtekens bij koersexplosie Fastned |date = June 24, 2019 |last = Groot |first = Natasja de }} Fastned had also planned an IPO that day in order to raise between €27 million and €30 million by issuing at most three million stock certificates. However, it was blown off the day before.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/beurs/1305629/fastned-wel-naar-de-beurs-maar-blaast-ophalen-nieuw-kapitaal-af |title = Fastned blaast ophalen nieuw kapitaal af |access-date = April 14, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |date = June 20, 2019 }} Co-founder Bart Lubbers had left the management board one month earlier to become chairman of the supervisory board.{{Cite web |url = https://presspage-production-content.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2519/annual-report-fastned-2019.pdf |title = Annual Report 2019 |access-date = April 9, 2020 |date = March 31, 2020 |website = Fastned }}

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Fastned experienced negative effects; its sales declined by 70% from February to March.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/ondernemen/1339901/fastned-ziet-stroomafzet-70-afnemen-door-coronacrisis |title = Fastned ziet stroomafzet met 70% afnemen door coronacrisis |date = March 31, 2020 |language = Dutch |access-date = July 26, 2020 |website = Het Financieele Dagblad }}

File:Fastned electric vehicle charging station, De Wâlden (2019) 06.jpg]]

As of March 2024, Fastned's network consists of 308 EV charging stations, of which 173 are located in the Netherlands. The lion's share of Dutch charging stations are located at highway rest areas. Three are located at Albert Heijn supermarkets, and some more are situated in cities. The charging stations outside the Netherlands are in Germany (19), the United Kingdom (6), Belgium (2), and Switzerland (2). Four German locations are at hotels of Van der Valk, while the remaining are close to highways. The first British location was in Sunderland, and the company has won a tender to expand to London.{{Cite web |url = https://fastnedcharging.com/en/locations |title = Locations |website = Fastned |access-date = July 26, 2020 }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/26/electric-black-cabs-transport-for-london-tfl-charging-stations |website = The Guardian |last = Vaughan |first = Adam |date = April 26, 2017 |access-date = July 26, 2020 |title = TfL to spend £18m on preparing London for new electric black cabs }} In Switzerland, Fastned had won a tender to build twenty charging stations.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/economie/veel-potentie-nog-nooit-winst-durven-beleggers-in-fastned-te-stappen~a5059447/ |title = Veel potentie, nog nooit winst: durven beleggers in Fastned te stappen? |last1 = Bremmer |first1 = David |last2 = Voermans |first2 = Ton |language = Dutch |access-date = April 14, 2020 |date = June 12, 2019 |website = Algemeen Dagblad }} Fastned's stations were used a total of 194,000 times during the last quarter of 2020 by 53,000 different customers. The company has plans to expand to France.

The earlier charging stations are characterized by two yellow arches with a curved roof, consisting of solar panels, in between. The company introduced a new station design in 2016 with a higher roof in order to accommodate electric trucks. Additionally, it is better suited to increases in the number of individual charging points at a station. The roof is still composed of solar panels, but they are see-through in the new design.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/etten-leur/deze-paraplu-s-komen-langs-de-a58~a9fddf06/ |access-date = April 14, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = Algemeen Dagblad |last = Bas |first = John |title = Deze 'paraplu's' komen langs de A58 |date = April 8, 2019 }} The design is inspired by bolts of lightning.

Fastned allows roaming access to their network for third party apps and access cards. Current partners include Gireve,{{Cite web |date=2023-10-23 |title=Discover Fastned's offer on Gireve's roaming platform. |url=https://www.gireve.com/fastned-gireve-partnership-european-ev-charging/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=www.Gireve.com}} Q8 in Belgium,{{Cite web |date=2023-11-05 |title=Q8 plugs into Fastned |url=https://www.q8.be/nl/en-partnerships-electric |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=www.q8.be}} Paua in the UK{{Cite web |date=2021-07-09 |title=Paua electric fuel card Partners Fastned on World EV day 2021 |url=https://www.pauatech.com/news/55135222250 |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=www.PauaTech.com}} and Greenflux across Europe.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-05 |title=Feel the freedom of our network |url=https://www.greenflux.com/roaming/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105002522/https://www.greenflux.com/roaming/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=www.greenflux.com |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |url-status=bot: unknown }}

Fastned's revenue had been close to zero during its initial years due to a low number of customers. In recent years, it has increased to €36 million (2022). The company has never turned a profit due to its continuing expansion.

Fastned has been involved in a number of lawsuits concerning permits to operate at rest areas.

A number of gas station operators sued the Dutch government in 2013 after Fastned had received its permit to operate charging stations at rest areas. They claimed Fastned should not have been given the permit, as existent gas stations at rest areas had been given the exclusive right to sell fuel at those places. A judge upheld Fastned's permit in July 2013 stating that the agreement between the government and the gas stations only concerns fossil fuels.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/pomphouders-verliezen-zaak-over-laadpalen-elektrische-auto-s~abeb5dec/ |title = Pomphouders verliezen zaak over laadpalen elektrische auto's |access-date = April 11, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = Algemeen Dagblad |date = July 25, 2013 }}

When Fastned wanted to add toilets and convenience stores at some of their locations, Rijkswaterstaat, the owner of the land of rest areas, did not grant the necessary permits. The government agency considered it inappropriate and unsafe to have some amenities twice at a single rest area.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/boxtel/rijkswaterstaat-wil-geen-kiosk-en-wc-s-bij-snellaadstation-velder~a773c145/ |title = Rijkswaterstaat wil geen kiosk en wc's bij snellaadstation Velder |access-date = April 13, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = Algemeen Dagblad |date = September 5, 2018 |last = Ommen |first = Jan van }} Fastned subsequently went to court in 2017 and won the case, as the judge found that Rijkswaterstaat provided insufficient support for its claim.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/economie/fastned-sleept-staat-voor-de-rechter-om-laadstations-shell~aebcc91a/ |title = Fastned sleept staat voor de rechter om laadstations Shell |access-date = April 12, 2020 |language = Dutch |date = December 3, 2017 |website = Algemeen Dagblad }} Rijkswaterstaat appealed the decision, but lost again in 2019 at the Council of State, forcing the agency to grant a permit or to come up with better reasons for another denial.{{Cite news |url = https://www.rtlz.nl/beurs/bedrijven/artikel/4584641/rijkswaterstaat-weigerde-onterecht-vergunning-voor-toilet-bij |title = Rijkswaterstaat weigerde onterecht vergunning voor toilet bij Fastned |date = January 23, 2019 |access-date = April 12, 2020 |language = Dutch |website = RTL Z }}

After Royal Dutch Shell announced in 2017 it would place charging stations at some of its locations, Fastned filed a number of lawsuits trying to prevent this in December. Some of those charging stations were to be located at rest areas already having a Fastned location. Fastned did not manage to prevent the placement through the cases, in which it raised safety concerns and argued Shell could not sell electricity with its permit to sell fuel.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/economie/fastned-vangt-weer-bot-bij-rechter-in-laadstationzaak-tegen-shell~a00404bd/ |title = Fastned vangt weer bot bij rechter in laadstationzaak tegen Shell |last = Peet |first = Annick van der |access-date = April 12, 2010 |language = Dutch |website = Algemeen Dagblad |date = December 28, 2017 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commonscat|Fastned}}

• [https://www.fastnedcharging.com/en/ Official website]

Category:Companies based in Amsterdam

Category:Companies listed on Euronext Amsterdam

Category:Dutch companies established in 2012

Category:Electric vehicle infrastructure developers

Category:Transport companies of the Netherlands

Category:Charging stations