Today we speak with Inma Cima, Country Manager of Fastned Spain, the Dutch ultra-fast electric vehicle charging infrastructure company that entered the Madrid market in April 2023.
- Could you briefly explain what Fastned does?
Fastned is a Dutch company specialising in the operation of ultra-fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). Founded in 2012, the company currently operates 414 high-power charging stations across nine European countries and aims to expand its network to 1,000 stations throughout Europe by 2030. We supply 100% renewable electricity and focus on long-distance travel corridors and strategic locations, making electric mobility more convenient for drivers.
Our value proposition is built around three core pillars: the fastest charging speeds, outstanding reliability, and a simple, seamless user experience across every market where we operate.
In the first quarter of 2026, Fastned delivered 55.6 GWh of renewable electricity, completed 2.1 million charging sessions and achieved 40% growth in charging revenue, reflecting the continued acceleration of electric mobility across Europe.
- How has Fastned positioned itself in the Madrid Region?
- Madrid is one of our priority markets in Spain. In many ways, the Madrid Region reminds us of our roots in the Netherlands: it is a densely populated region with high traffic volumes and the highest penetration of electric vehicles in Spain.
We are currently developing several strategic projects that will strengthen the region’s ultra-fast charging infrastructure, including the future Villalba North and Villalba South charging stations on the A-6 motorway, as well as projects in Valdemoro, Torrejón de Ardoz and other key locations.
Our vision is to help build a high-quality ultra-fast charging network capable of supporting the continued growth of electric vehicles in the Madrid Region, serving both everyday mobility needs and long-distance travel.
- How would you describe your nature-inspired fast charging concept?
- Our mission is to accelerate the transition to electric mobility by inspiring millions of people to drive using solar and wind energy, ultimately helping to tackle climate change together.
This commitment is reflected in the design of our charging stations, which are based on our distinctive Solar Tree concept. Their canopies resemble trees, combining timber structures with solar panels that generate renewable energy. These open, welcoming and highly recognisable spaces are designed to blend naturally into their surroundings.
However, the concept is about much more than aesthetics. The Solar Tree has been designed to enhance the customer experience by providing shelter from rain and sunshine, as well as lighting during the night and on dark winter afternoons. We want every charging session to be pleasant, intuitive and fully aligned with the sustainability values driving the energy transition.
The Solar Tree was shortlisted for the DesignEuropa Awards in the Industry category, where it was assessed on criteria including functionality, innovation, design ethics and social impact. Today, it can be found at hundreds of Fastned charging stations across Europe.
Ultimately, the Solar Tree is far more than a canopy: it is the physical expression of Fastned’s mission, bringing together architecture, sustainability and technology to accelerate the transition to electric mobility.
- What sets Fastned apart from other charging providers?
- Our key differentiator is that we do not simply install chargers—we develop and operate fully integrated charging stations designed specifically for ultra-fast charging, with the aim of delivering the best possible customer experience. Fastned is synonymous with quality and reliability.
We focus on strategic locations, spacious and safe environments, industry-leading operational availability of close to 99.9%, and a customer-centric approach.
Availability is one of the performance indicators EV drivers value most. For us, it means that our chargers are operational 99.9% of the time, providing drivers with the confidence they need when travelling.
Our stations can deliver charging speeds of up to 400 kW, enabling drivers to recover approximately 300 kilometres of driving range in around 15 minutes. We also work continuously to simplify the charging experience through technologies such as Autocharge, which allows vehicles to identify themselves automatically and start charging without requiring users to interact with multiple apps or payment systems.
- Fastned first established itself in the Netherlands before expanding across Europe, and now operates in countries including Germany, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy and Spain. What are your future growth and expansion plans?
- Electric mobility is growing rapidly across Europe, and we intend to continue supporting and driving that transformation. Our goal is to operate 1,000 charging stations across Europe by 2030, with a particular focus on high-growth markets such as Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany.
In Spain, we plan to invest more than €100 million to develop around 80 ultra-fast charging stations by 2030. We believe the country has all the ingredients needed to become one of Europe’s leading electric mobility markets, provided that the deployment of charging infrastructure continues to accelerate.
- Why did you choose the Madrid Region as one of your key locations? What advantages does the region offer compared with other cities?
- The Madrid Region is home to Spain’s main national institutions and decision-making bodies. For a foreign company operating in a highly regulated sector such as ours, being located at the heart of the country’s institutional landscape is essential for building strong relationships with public authorities and key industry stakeholders.
From a market perspective, the Madrid Region leads Spain in electric vehicle adoption, with an EV penetration rate of 2.7%, compared with the national average of 1%. Together with Catalonia, it accounts for more than 60% of all new EV registrations in the country, making it the priority market for deploying charging infrastructure.
Strategically, Spain’s motorway network is organised around Madrid in a radial structure, making the region an essential hub for any long-distance charging network.
- How would you rate your collaboration with Invest in Madrid?
- Invest in Madrid has been—and continues to be—our guardian angel. We were first introduced through the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Madrid, and since then we have built a trusted relationship that has played a key role in our development in Spain. Their ability to open doors to ministries, local authorities and a wide range of public institutions is difficult to match.
What sets them apart from our experience with other regional investment agencies is their agility, responsiveness and genuinely solution-oriented approach. They combine the mindset and efficiency of a private-sector organisation with the reach and influence of a public institution.
In a market with three levels of regulation and multiple government ministries involved, having a trusted partner to help navigate the institutional landscape has been a real competitive advantage. Invest in Madrid is far more than a source of occasional support—it is a strategic partner.
- How many jobs have you created in the Madrid Region? What types of professional profiles are you looking for?
- Fastned’s Spanish headquarters are located in central Madrid. We currently employ around 16 people directly and support approximately 50 additional jobs indirectly through the engineering, specialist consultancy, construction and other services we commission.
These are highly skilled roles linked to the development, construction and operation of sustainable mobility infrastructure.
The profiles we are looking for reflect the technical and strategic nature of our business, including engineers, architects, maintenance specialists and operations professionals.
As the sector continues to grow at pace, our team has the potential to double in size year after year. With our ambition to develop around 80 charging stations across Spain by 2030, we expect to generate a significant increase in both direct and indirect employment in the Madrid Region.
- Would you recommend the Madrid Region to other international investors considering expanding into Spain?
- Without hesitation, yes.
The first piece of advice we would give any foreign company looking to establish a presence in Spain is to choose the Madrid Region as its operational base. It offers direct access to national authorities, industry associations and the country’s strongest institutional support ecosystem.
Our second recommendation is to engage with Invest in Madrid from the very beginning. In a market with 17 autonomous communities and a complex regulatory framework, their ability to connect businesses with the right stakeholders at the right time is an invaluable asset.
Finally, we would encourage companies to take a long-term view, invest in local talent and build trusted relationships. Spain offers tremendous opportunities for international businesses, and the Madrid Region—with the support of Invest in Madrid—is the ideal place to begin making the most of them.